Despite its heart-wrenching subject matter, this WWII drama lacks the sensitive
direction that characterizes the best explorations of traumatized childhood, such as LACOMBE LUCIEN (1974) and FORBIDDEN GAMES (1951).
During the German occupation of Poland, two Jewish parents drill their 12 year-old, Romek (Hale Joel Osment), in the rudiments of the Catholic faith so he can be passed off as the child of a sympathetic gentile farmer, Gniecio (Olaf
Lubaszenko). Although the parish priest (Willem Dafoe) shields the Jewish youngster’s identity, his pupils resent the outsider’s superior knowledge of Catechism class. Romek bonds with Gniecio’s simple-minded son...
Released:
2001
Rated:
R
Length:
95 mins