This film is a real treat. It depicts a loving, happy and slightly chaotic grand wartime household in Tuscany in 1944. The family is augmented by two orphaned children taken into care. Because life is seen from the child Penny's perspective, there are no really ugly scenes or characters, only the normal escapades and heartbreaks of a child growing up within the limited boundaries of house, school, forest and pool. That is, until the remnants of the retreating German army are billeted in the house, and fanatical eye of the SS officer uncovers the Jewish identity of the family. The shock of what follows is as searing as anything shown on screen, and confirms the terrible consequences of evil ideology.
8 Reviews
You will laugh and cry.
ericg-721 February 2006
Just discovered this, thanks to the glut of free DVDs being given away by the British press. At least 'The Independent' has taken some care with its selections and this film, I think, has been the best of all. It is an enchanting but then, tragic story which portrays some of the best and worst of human traits. The best is in the love, stoicism and courage of the family - the worst, not in the Germans per se but rather in the Nazis. A beautifully crafted film with good performances from the adults and wonderfully natural performances from the kids. It will make you laugh and cry and perhaps, even give you pause to wonder what you would do, if faced with such terrible dangers.
The sky is falling
jotix10020 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Katchen Einstein brother's death in Florence changes the make up of her family. She and Wilhelm, her husband, and her two daughters, must make room to accommodate her newly orphaned nieces, Penny and Baby. The little girls feel lost at first when they arrive at their aunt Katchen's big house. Wilhelm Einstein is a rich German Jew living in Italy with his Italian family just as WWII erupts all over the continent.
When the two nieces arrive, the Einsteins are shocked. Penny and Baby give them a fascist salute, something they did not expect from such small girls. The nieces clash with Katchen's younger daughter. The cousins have never been close, so now they must share close quarters. As a solution to engage the girls, Katchen thinks it is best if they play with the peasant children because there are no other playmates in their age bracket. Penny and Baby, two precocious girls, develop a good affinity with their new friends, even though they come from richer origins.
War finds the Einstein family by way of an advancing German troop that take possession of their palatial home. They must make allowances for the invading soldiers and their commander, who finds a chess playing partner in Wilhelm. Although the Germans don't single out the family for being Jews, Wilhelm decides to join the local opposing forces and goes away. This action creates a problem for the enemy. When they come to get Wilhelm, they become furious by not finding him. They take their revenge with Katchen and her two daughters. When Wilhelm returns he is appalled in what he finds.
Brothers Andrea and Antonio Frazzi are both credited with the direction of this film. This wartime drama was an unexpected surprise because what the Frazzis were able to accomplish in the atmosphere both created in which to set their picture. The era in which the events take place is vividly reproduced. The Nazi cruelty toward the Einsteins was something that was repeated all over Europe. The film is seen from the orphans point of view.
Our main interest for watching the film was Isabella Rossellini, a fine actress working in her native country. In fact, she is upstaged by the two precious little girls, who appear to be non professionals as the nieces that are taken in by the kind Katchen and are made to feel part of the family. The girls are spared a sure death by wearing the crucifixes around their necks. The supporting cast is fine.
When the two nieces arrive, the Einsteins are shocked. Penny and Baby give them a fascist salute, something they did not expect from such small girls. The nieces clash with Katchen's younger daughter. The cousins have never been close, so now they must share close quarters. As a solution to engage the girls, Katchen thinks it is best if they play with the peasant children because there are no other playmates in their age bracket. Penny and Baby, two precocious girls, develop a good affinity with their new friends, even though they come from richer origins.
War finds the Einstein family by way of an advancing German troop that take possession of their palatial home. They must make allowances for the invading soldiers and their commander, who finds a chess playing partner in Wilhelm. Although the Germans don't single out the family for being Jews, Wilhelm decides to join the local opposing forces and goes away. This action creates a problem for the enemy. When they come to get Wilhelm, they become furious by not finding him. They take their revenge with Katchen and her two daughters. When Wilhelm returns he is appalled in what he finds.
Brothers Andrea and Antonio Frazzi are both credited with the direction of this film. This wartime drama was an unexpected surprise because what the Frazzis were able to accomplish in the atmosphere both created in which to set their picture. The era in which the events take place is vividly reproduced. The Nazi cruelty toward the Einsteins was something that was repeated all over Europe. The film is seen from the orphans point of view.
Our main interest for watching the film was Isabella Rossellini, a fine actress working in her native country. In fact, she is upstaged by the two precious little girls, who appear to be non professionals as the nieces that are taken in by the kind Katchen and are made to feel part of the family. The girls are spared a sure death by wearing the crucifixes around their necks. The supporting cast is fine.
A moving story about tolerance and terror set in Italy during World War 2
omaworld3 May 2001
The film made the point that it was possible for a Jewish family to live in wartime Italy in the idyllic country scene,where children did childish things and lived a normal life.The family servants,the clergy and the local population knew who they were,and they were not persecuted.It was only when the retreating German Army came on the scene that the fate of the family was sealed.I understand the story is based on incidents in the Mazzetti family,and may be written as a novel,but I can understand why it was written and filmed the way it was.I found the film engaging and very moving.
A classic of European cinema
paul-27615 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
A timeless and timely reminder that in the real world bad things happen to good people too and that not all characters are caricatures.. a beautifully made and thought through film and an insightful look at the perspectives of children. Great understated performances from the adult cast and in particular the two principal guardians. I particularly liked the moment when the first Nazi interloper leaves the house with great dignity and shakes the hand of Mr Einstein in full knowledge of his religion. Despite the inevitable longing for a happy ending, the film pulls no punches and shows us truth and the raw unpredictability of human nature. Boy did that officer get out of the wrong side of the bed..
A moving and thought-provoking wartime story.
whitesf20 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
A very moving story that is perfectly understated giving it a poignant and universal quality. The whole film is seen through the eyes of children who are caught up in events that they do not comprehend except that they affect them deeply. The children's acting is natural and unforced, at times full of the carefree pleasures of childhood but also able to reach considerable depth of feeling.
It is a film of positive values: love, family, tolerance played out against the brutality and pointlessness of a war that impacts ordinary people giving it a truly universal quality.
Joeren Krabbe gives a restrained performance of great dignity and humanity making the tragedy of his death so much the greater. Having done all to protect and safeguard his family, human inhumanity wantonly destroys though in the end the human spirit rises above the evil that lies beneath the surface.
I highly recommend the film: we need to remember too that similar stories are played out wherever there is war. This is a universal story.
It is a film of positive values: love, family, tolerance played out against the brutality and pointlessness of a war that impacts ordinary people giving it a truly universal quality.
Joeren Krabbe gives a restrained performance of great dignity and humanity making the tragedy of his death so much the greater. Having done all to protect and safeguard his family, human inhumanity wantonly destroys though in the end the human spirit rises above the evil that lies beneath the surface.
I highly recommend the film: we need to remember too that similar stories are played out wherever there is war. This is a universal story.
a kind of summer day
Vincentiu29 July 2012
touching, nice, profound, dark, fresh. childhood in war time. the theme is not new. and the traps are not rare. but this film is result of good and wise work. because the taste is different, the colors are perfect instrument for impressive sketch, the performance of little actors is seductive. the heart of childhood, the mixture of games, innocence and fear, the nuances of love, the Italian spirit, the last scenes - all are more than adaptation of real fact. it is not great but gentle. it is not exception but delicate sketch of a tragedy like a ferns in herbarium. discover of world and the shadow of death. all as special story of two sisters in the house of second family. in fact, a movie like a summer day. hot, sweet, bitter, profound, with brilliant sun and gloomy clouds. all in the skin of very cold rain.
a war film
Kirpianuscus8 May 2017
a war film. different by others for the landscapes of Tuscany, for the events perceived by a child, for the spirit of family, for the pressure of a form of evil who impose tragic state of soul. it is one of films who explores the essence of small things, fear and insecurity with admirable grace and precision. and this does it special. like a confession. or way to define what it is real important . a war film. and more than a simple film.. for many and different motifs. so, see it !
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