The French film Le voyage de Fanny was shown in the U.S. with the translated title Fanny's Journey (2016). It was written and directed by Lola Doillon, and is based on a true story.
Fanny's journey is a Holocaust film, and depicts a daring escape attempt as eight children, led by 13-year-old Fanny, try to leave France and reach Switzerland. (A fact not stated in the IMDb material, but told to us during the introduction, is that actually Fanny led 23 children as they tried to escape. Director Doillon wisely decided to lower the number so that we could get to know some of the children as individuals.)
A movie like this will rise or fall based on the lead character. Léonie Souchaud, who portrays Fanny, is a superb actor. I'm not sure of her actual age, but she's clearly a young adolescent. How she obtained the acting skills required for the role is a question to which she or director Doillon know the answer. Clearly, she possesses those skills.
We saw the movie at the excellent Little Theatre as part of the outstanding Rochester International Jewish Film Festival. The RIJFF gets better every year. If you live in Upstate New York, plan to attend the festival. (It's a little late for 2017, because the RIJFF ends on July 17th. However, some films will be re-shown during the year, and there's 2018 to look forward to.)
This movie has a barely acceptable IMDb rating of 6.9. It should have a higher rating than that. It will work better on the large screen than on the small screen, but it's worth seeking out and watching wherever you can find it.
P.S. The RIJFF labeled the film as "Family Friendly. Suitable for ages 10 and up." It's not. In my opinion, no one under age 13 should see it, and even that's a stretch.
Fanny's journey is a Holocaust film, and depicts a daring escape attempt as eight children, led by 13-year-old Fanny, try to leave France and reach Switzerland. (A fact not stated in the IMDb material, but told to us during the introduction, is that actually Fanny led 23 children as they tried to escape. Director Doillon wisely decided to lower the number so that we could get to know some of the children as individuals.)
A movie like this will rise or fall based on the lead character. Léonie Souchaud, who portrays Fanny, is a superb actor. I'm not sure of her actual age, but she's clearly a young adolescent. How she obtained the acting skills required for the role is a question to which she or director Doillon know the answer. Clearly, she possesses those skills.
We saw the movie at the excellent Little Theatre as part of the outstanding Rochester International Jewish Film Festival. The RIJFF gets better every year. If you live in Upstate New York, plan to attend the festival. (It's a little late for 2017, because the RIJFF ends on July 17th. However, some films will be re-shown during the year, and there's 2018 to look forward to.)
This movie has a barely acceptable IMDb rating of 6.9. It should have a higher rating than that. It will work better on the large screen than on the small screen, but it's worth seeking out and watching wherever you can find it.
P.S. The RIJFF labeled the film as "Family Friendly. Suitable for ages 10 and up." It's not. In my opinion, no one under age 13 should see it, and even that's a stretch.