White Bird
White Bird
Stars: Helen Mirren, Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Bryce Gheisar and Gillian Anderson
Director: Marc Forster
Scriptwriter: Mark Bomback from the graphic novel by R.J. Palacio
Composer: Thomas Newman
Cinematography: Matthias Koenigswieser
Participant/Lionsgate
Rating: PG 13
Running Length: 120 Minutes
“White Bird” (sometimes called “A Wonder Story”) is set in Nazi Germany during WWII and concerns the plight of Jewish children when they have to go into hiding, sometimes alone. This is an adaptation from the graphic novel by R.J. Palacio. In the film, there are flashbacks, friendships, betrayals and the disparaging aspects of war. Helen Mirren stars as grandmother Sara who is visiting her grandson, long after WWII. From here, the past is revealed and not what everything thinks happened. Also, in the cast are Gillian Anderson and Orlando Schwerdt. Have handkerchief ready
The film begins with grandmother Sara (Mirren) visiting her grandson, Julian (Bryce Gheisar) in Paris. He is not comfortable at his new school and wants to leave. Sara begins to tell him her story of life during WWII in France when it was occupied by German Nazi troops. Sara (as a young girl and here played by Ariella Glaser) is in school with a boy named Julien (Orlando Schwendt). When the Jews are targeted, Sara manages to escape the Nazi troops gathering people and is hidden for over a year by the classmate, Julien, who reviews his schoolwork with her. Julien suffered from the aftereffect of polio and has a decided limp. This causes him to be the butt of jokes at school. Sara has to stay in the barn, so she is not discovered. mother (Vivienne) is played by Gillian Anderson, and, also helps to hide Sara. Julien is at a German checkpoint when he goes missing. Sara is alone. What to do?
The film is tender and shows the tenacity of having to live within the conflicts of war. Particularly, this war in which the Jewish population is to be exterminated and you never know who your friend is. Neighbors can be spies. There are several close calls and we see the cruelty children can play upon each other which mimics the cruelty the troops put upon the Jewish population.
Helen Mirren as Grandmother Sara, carries her role well as she tells the story, while Ariella Glaser as the young Sara, does just as well in a demanding role. As the young man, also named Julien and played by Orlando Schwerdt, is probably best of all. He defines courage though having ill-health because of polio. The soundtrack by Thomas Newman wonderfully underplays the film and Matthias Koenigswieser’s cinematography is tops.
Four Tocks
Copyright 2024 Marie Asner
