A Bag of Marbles

I am very interested in movies about the last world war. What makes me sad is how brutal the chase was against Jewish people and children. This true story let since long time again tears in my eyes. I mean Patrick Bruel and the two boys played their roles very convincingly and with lot of passion. The filming locations in Nice and Savoie have been well presented. I liked it very much and it was never boring. There were lot of turns and some painful scenes that touched me a lot. Christian Dugay directed this historical remake with full of attention and respect. I didn't see the first one but the last is perhaps even better than the original version.

If you liked this genre of movie don't miss Der Letzte Zug, Son of Soul, Die Fâlscher, The Pianist, Sarah's Key or Elser. If you are interested read my critics on this site for all these mentioned great movies.

8/10

It is one of the best movies I have ever seen about WWII. I trully adored these two brothers and the affection between them. It is about family, caring, trusting, loving. What makes it special among other WWII movies is the fact that it does not focus on the battles or the holocaust itself two much, so it is friendly enough for a younger audience. The picture is amazing and the soundrack is totally touching. And when it comes about acting, oohh when it comes about acting. . .you'll see! I really don't want to overdo it with my review, so I will let you enjoy it. An explosion of emotions shall begin...

It is difficult to find the words to review a movie - and even more assign a rating - on a subject like the holocaust, drawing a line between an objective review of the filmic qualities of the movie and the emotional impact of its context. Nevertheless, I found it beautiful, delicate, moving, excruciating - even more so knowing it comes from a true story. The performance of the key actors is impeccable, always perfectly measured even in the most dramatic moments; the narrative tension is maintained high throughout the whole movie between the brutal reality of the events and the poetry of such reality seen through the eyes of a little, brave kid. Personally, I place Un Sac de Billes next to Schindler's List and La Vita é Bella; a movie that needed to be made and needs to be seen.

The two main characters of A Bag of Marbles are young Jewish brothers, Joseph and Maurice, whose lives are upended by the German invasion of France.

They live peacefully in Paris with their parents and two older brothers, until the occupation forces them to flee to the south, where they find temporary refuge - at least until the Nazis tighten their grip on the entire country.

Yes, it's another film about the Holocaust. And no, I don't understand the so-called "reviewers" who complain about that. If the subject matter bothers them, perhaps they should check the synopsis - or better yet, skip it altogether. As Holocaust films go, this one is exceptionally well made, with strong performances and moments that genuinely move. One especially powerful scene shows Jo's father slapping him to force a denial of his Jewish identity, a brutal act done out of desperate love. Another, more subdued but equally poignant, is Jo's failed attempt at romance with the daughter of a collaborator.

Definitely worth watching.

I have no words to explain how much I loved this movie, it was based on a real life situation and it really gets to you. The story, the plot and the acting is amazing. The movie gives you a beautiful message, i'm not gonna lie, it made me cry into tears. It touches your heart in a way no other movie can.