I don't think I have ever given a film a rating of 10; it's a little thing I learned from science fair judging: always leave room for something better. However, in this case, I can't imagine anything better. I'm a classic film buff, and it's way up there with Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon, if not better, except that even the kids will love it.
The film is based on a book by Astrid Lindgren, better known for her Pippi Longstocking stories. But this title may be her great masterpiece. It's an epic saga of friendship, love, and trust that transcend the petty bickering of the ordinary world, all set in a frame of curious fantasy and breathtaking cinematography. I can watch it over and over and over.
Here's the catch: as far as I know, it's only available in Scandinavian languages and German. Not a problem. Although my Swedish is improving slowly, it still sucks, but that doesn't seem to matter. This film is worth learning the language for, and if you don't want to go that far, it's still worth watching even if you don't understand a single spoken word. No one can miss the message. It ranks as one of my select top half dozen films (out of thousands), and certain to remain there forever.
The film is based on a book by Astrid Lindgren, better known for her Pippi Longstocking stories. But this title may be her great masterpiece. It's an epic saga of friendship, love, and trust that transcend the petty bickering of the ordinary world, all set in a frame of curious fantasy and breathtaking cinematography. I can watch it over and over and over.
Here's the catch: as far as I know, it's only available in Scandinavian languages and German. Not a problem. Although my Swedish is improving slowly, it still sucks, but that doesn't seem to matter. This film is worth learning the language for, and if you don't want to go that far, it's still worth watching even if you don't understand a single spoken word. No one can miss the message. It ranks as one of my select top half dozen films (out of thousands), and certain to remain there forever.