This charming Irish family film has never received the attention it deserves. Based on a French novel of the same name it tells the story of two rival villages and the escalating conflict between their children. Their disputes start small with the typical name calling and idle threats of violence but in a game of oneupmanship it descends into a full blown war where the buttons of their foes become prized possessions.
It is a rather slight film made up of a number of subplots. In truth even at 90-minutes it feels rather drawn out yet its spirit and believable casting help push it through to the end. The cast of non-professional child actors acquit themselves well delivering natural and unpretentious performances whilst this likes of Liam Cunningham and Colm Meaney enliven small adult roles. Director, John Roberts, also makes great use of the beautiful rural Irish landscape.
Although very much a family film it isn't afraid to show the darker side of life nor the conflict. The leader of the Bally gang is a boy with an unloving home life who finds companionship and purpose in this battle with his rivals but loses sight of everything else around him. Most of the skirmishes involve typical childhood games with slingshots and throwing rotten vegetables but the violence escalates in a believable manner. It could so easily have drifted into syrupy sentimentality but it maintains its restraint and endearing tone.
War of the Buttons is a warm, amusing but rough around the edges film about childhood and friendship that has aged remarkably well.
It is a rather slight film made up of a number of subplots. In truth even at 90-minutes it feels rather drawn out yet its spirit and believable casting help push it through to the end. The cast of non-professional child actors acquit themselves well delivering natural and unpretentious performances whilst this likes of Liam Cunningham and Colm Meaney enliven small adult roles. Director, John Roberts, also makes great use of the beautiful rural Irish landscape.
Although very much a family film it isn't afraid to show the darker side of life nor the conflict. The leader of the Bally gang is a boy with an unloving home life who finds companionship and purpose in this battle with his rivals but loses sight of everything else around him. Most of the skirmishes involve typical childhood games with slingshots and throwing rotten vegetables but the violence escalates in a believable manner. It could so easily have drifted into syrupy sentimentality but it maintains its restraint and endearing tone.
War of the Buttons is a warm, amusing but rough around the edges film about childhood and friendship that has aged remarkably well.