I first saw this film when I was 9 or perhaps 10 years old and it made quite an impression on me. Having just re-watched it recently, I was pleased to see that it has aged rather well. Despite the back-drop of the blitz, this is more of a character driven piece as opposed to a war film, per se; and all the actors are uniformly excellent. I picked up on the little nuances of regret between the Uncle and the Mother this time around, something that brings another dimension to the film and something that I would have been too young to comprehend when I first saw this. And the final third of the film, when they go to live with Grandpa by the river, was just as good as I remembered it being. Funny, sad and full of joy and life, this is a great film that can enjoyed by all ages. Recommended if you enjoyed 'Empire of the Sun' and the Robert Westall book 'The Machine Gunners.'
Review of Hope and Glory
