WWII Britan is shown through the eyes of 8 year old Billy (Sebastian Rice Edwards). His father leaves to fight and he's left with his two sisters and mother. Based on director John Boorman's life. Sounds depressing but it's not. The kids back then treated the war as if it were a big game. They would go through bombed out houses looking for stuff to take---or break and made games with all the stuff they found.
There's really no story--it just follows Billy and his family through the course of the war and all the incidents that happened. The 1930-40s setting is captured perfectly and (I've heard) accurately portrays life in Britain at that time--through a child's eyes with a comic twist. The acting is all very good--especially Edwards, Sarah Miles (as the mother) and Sammi Davis (as a rebellious daughter).
This film is leisurely paced and some viewers might find it dull but others will find it absolutely fascinating--showing how an average British family made it through WWII. I give it a 9.
There's really no story--it just follows Billy and his family through the course of the war and all the incidents that happened. The 1930-40s setting is captured perfectly and (I've heard) accurately portrays life in Britain at that time--through a child's eyes with a comic twist. The acting is all very good--especially Edwards, Sarah Miles (as the mother) and Sammi Davis (as a rebellious daughter).
This film is leisurely paced and some viewers might find it dull but others will find it absolutely fascinating--showing how an average British family made it through WWII. I give it a 9.