MeiAboulfath

I am a HUGE fan of the book, the kind that ran to recommend it as soon as I was done, AND it's still on my fav list.

So in my opinion, this should have been a longer series, not a 4 ep mini-series. So much of the background story was cut out (except for the important details) and as a result I didn't feel attached to the characters on screen. To my eyes they were actors on a screen playing a role and not a character come to life, because what was that life like, what was it like growing up? There were no normal calm days shown start to finish within Saint Malo, only snippets and highlights. The same thing in Paris, and the orphanage and in Berlin. I don't think we were even left enough time with the characters' point of views and their emotions and their personal deep thoughts...

I love the casting on the other hand, such a great choice for everyone especially for Louis Hoffmann as Werner whom I have always pictured as the character. The struggle of Marie-Laure as a blind girl during war was portrayed most genuinely by Aria Mia Loberti.

I loved the directing, filming, the angles and the lighting, the sets, the composition of the scenes. All of it made my eyes linger on the screen for more.

However, I wasn't a fan of the ending. But that's because I love works that are true to books, I like to see the pictures in my mind manifest into reality. And yet, this one works in this setting. It just didnt evoke enough emotions in me, possibly because the entire story felt rushed and compressed - focusing on only the "bombings" and the "search for a jewel". Everything else falls in the background of these 2 points, and not in conjunction as portrayed. And so the entire plot seemed superficial once you're actually done watching.

Finally, the LANGUAGE. Despite the book being in English, watching the characters speak English felt EXTREMELY out of place. Werner's wasn't bad since he had a bit of a German accent, but why did Marie-Laure and her father and everyone else who was French, speak English with a British accent? And not a French one? (if we were to apply the same principle of Werner's English to them). There's even a side character that attempts to 'brush up' on her English skills but her British-accented English is actually flawless?? If the series wasn't going to be in the original languages, there should have at least been attempts to bridge things closer or mimic them. This was the BIGGEST downfall of the work because once again, didn't let me fully immerse myself in the experience.

What's better for an anime lover than a "behind the scenes" anime right? And regarding that only it was accurately good, which is why I gave it a considerably high rating..? In fact it was too detailed that I ended up getting confused over what was going on, who was doing what and why, and when did it happen... which brings me to my next point: too many characters and too much shallowness. It was so hard to keep track of people's names and jobs, and I needed more of a backstory to add some depth to the main characters, if not everyone else. There were many dragged episodes as well, so it got less exciting as time passed by.

I really wish I was able to enjoy it though, it had the potential..