The cinematography is captivating and the people, adults and children alike look and act so convincingly that this film is truly remarkable. The dawn of an even more chilling new era of two world wars which these children are about to enter gives the events yet more deprh. I grew up in protestant northern Germany and remember the very old people in our village, who would have matched the ages of the children in their old age. The women continued to wear similar fashions, with only shorter skirts, the hair worn exactly like the girls in the film. The language, the houses and even some of the interiors I witnessed as a small child are very accurately reflected in this film. The film strongly hints at a brutalised generation which is gradually driven to extremism. This might be simplistic, but is worth considering. Overall a memorable masterpiece.