Belle & Sebastian

Nicholas Vanier directed this adaptation of Cécile Aubry's novel (adaptation and screenplay by director Vanier with Juliette Sales and Fabien Suarez) n a film that is in both French and German with English subtitles. The result is a film for the heart – a reminder that during the atrocities of WW II there were moments of meaningful relationships, especially between animals and people (remember 'War Horse'?).

The film is set during WWII in the snowy Alps of occupied France, on the border of Switzerland. Six year old Sébastien (Félix Bossuet), raised and adopted by his grandfather, is lonely and dreaming of the day his mother will return from America for him. He befriends an enormous yet gentle sheepdog Belle who quickly becomes his best friend and protector. With Nazis in the village rooting out the resistance fighters helping Jewish refugees cross the border, Belle and Sébastien's loyalty to each other and the village that has embraced them both will be put to the test.

The scenery is magnificent and the acting by the young and gifted Félix Bossuet is extraordinary. It is a moment of devotion and love and caring and protection during WW II that creates a strong sense of caring about the true meaning of friendship.

Belle and Sebastian, initially an excellent novel written by Cécile Aubry, has been adapted in movie by Nicolas Vanier. This beautiful and charming story makes a perfect family movie. Children as well as adults can enjoy it!

First, the story takes place during the WWII in the French Alps. Sebastian is a 6 year young boy, raised by his adopted grandfather. This little adventurer spends much time in the nature, playing with all it offers. One day, some sheep are found attacked. Everybody thinks that's a cruel and dangerous animal but during a walk, Sebastian meets this mysterious beast. It appears that it is a dog, a so cute dog that the boy recalled 'Belle'. At this moment, an unequaled friendship has just begun. Unfortunately, the determinate grandfather and his band have to kill the dog. Sebastian is so hungry with it and takes care of his best friend in secret. The boy will prove that the dog is not a bad animal the day it saves a life.

That lovely relation between a dog and a child is really pleasant for those who want to see a piece of sweet in this violent world period. In fact, we can also feel the strong atmosphere of occupation in that movie. A good point is definitely the beautiful mountainous landscapes. If you are fond of nature, you should be filled with Belle and Sebastian. We also have to notice the performance of Félix Bossuet, the young Sebastian who's particularly effective in his role.

In a word, I really recommend you this movie, a French one, something different than the full effects American movies. We sometimes need to see and enjoy simple things as a true friendship.

Adapted from the classic children's books by Cecile Aubrey - who also gave the name to one of the best band's ever, Scotland's own, 'Belle and Sebastian, we have a tale of a young boy and a dog. Well there is a bit more to it, as it is set in the Pyrenees during World War II. Sebastian befriends a run away dog and together they go off and have loads of adventures, face danger and stand up to the nasty Nazi's.

We also have the French resistance lots of snow, some songs so sugary they must be bad for your teeth and some subliminal messages to children about being nice to each other and getting an education - preferably in a school.

This is a great film for children - especially if learning French and might get them to start watching World cinema which can be no bad thing. It is very well made and the dog is as cute as a kitten in a bomber jacket. Add to that the mild adventure and you have all the ingredients for a classic. In French with a small amount of German and good sub titles; they are actually already making the follow up to this so that will be one to look out for soon.

Belle and Sebastian may also be the name of a band or an appliance brand but this review deals with the recent French film by that name. In it, a boy and his fluffy white dog save Jewish refugees from the Nazi occupation of France by leading them over the French Alps into Switzerland. Why don't the soldiers just follow them into unarmed Switzerland and take back the escapees is a good question for your history teacher. Beyond the honoring of true-life heroic acts taken by the French resistance, the movie is also an excuse to film some stunning visuals in the boy's largely vertical world. Within this world some sad and sophisticated things happen (including a least 2 double-crosses) so clearly this isn't an American children's picture. Some sad stuff happens as well but not as much as you expect for a French film. The acting is overwrought at times but generally very good - the dog is excellent. In short, worth taking your older children to and having them learn something.

The French movie Belle et Sébastien was shown in the U.S. with the title Belle and Sebastian (2013). It was directed by Nicolas Vanier. Félix Bossuet plays Sébastien, a young boy growing up with his grandfather and aunt in the French Alps, just across the border from Switzerland. (Actually, they're not really his grandfather and aunt, but those are the roles they would fill if they were biologically related.

The film takes place during WW II. We learn that the French Resistance in the area arranges the safe passage of Jews across the mountains into Switzerland. Naturally, the job of the occupying German soldiers is to stop this process and capture the Jews, along with the Resistance fighters who are helping them.

Sébastien doesn't go to school, because his grandfather believes that the boy will learn more by living the life of a mountaineer, learning practical information that will be of greater use than a formal education. That leaves Sébastien free to wander over the area. At one point he meets the huge white dog Belle, and they bond.

The local populace--including Sébastien's grandfather--believe that Belle is killing their sheep, and they are trying to find and kill the dog, while Sébastien is trying to protect and save her.

In a way, this film is programmed to capture our hearts. Sébastien is a brave and resourceful boy, Belle is gentle and beautiful, and we have all grown up with a cultural history of crying when a wounded Rin-Tin-Tin or Lassie is crawling under the barbed wire.

Still, the movie avoids most of these clichés, and Félix Bossuet is truly a gifted young actor. (I'll never understand how directors are able to bring forth such superb acting from children, but they do it. Director Vanier certainly manages it in this movie.)

We saw this movie at the Dryden Theatre as part of the wonderful Rochester International Jewish Film Festival. It took real strength on the part of the RIJFF to show this movie. Basically, it isn't about Jews. It's true that the Resistance is helping the Jews, but we only see the Jews as refugees, never as individual characters. The plots are all about Christians. However, that's one of the aspects of the RIJFF that makes it such a great festival--their movies aren't restricted to just a narrow band of "Jewish" films.

Belle et Sébastien will really work better on a large screen, because of the incredible mountain scenery. However, if you can't see it on a large screen, see it on a small screen. It's too good to miss.

Note: As I write this review, the movie has a tepid 6.8 IMDb rating. I'm not sure why--it's much better than that.