Marx plays a teenage Dutch Jew at the time of the holocaust, with an obsession with American style cowboy films. This alone would make for a wonderfully eccentric storyline, but couple that with Lou Jacobi singing bawdy songs (wish he could have been this funny in Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex) and a wonderful ending (no spoilers here) and you have the makings of a nice under the radar gem, which is certainly worth seeking out.
6 Reviews
I have a copy
mombasa_pete18 November 2006
Hi i actually have a copy of this movie, I recorded it on VHS when it was shown by the BBC in the 1980s! However all my tapes are in storage right now, as I am in the process of moving house in the next few months, after this is done, I will look it out, maybe I can make some copies of it. I think it is a very fine film and I really liked the fact it was also filmed in Holland, it made good use of the landscape, and had much beautiful scenery. It actually made me want to visit the town where it was filmed called DeRijp. I am now planning a trip there later this year. I am surprised we didn't hear any more about Brett Marx as he seemed a very good actor. It is a pity Canada doesn't make this kind of film any more. I think it is a very unique and poignant effort.
great teaching tool for middle school
MTanenb1916 May 2004
I would like a copy of this film. i have been looking everywhere.
I do not remember where I saw this film. it must have been some late night show but it has stuck with me for years, even though i do not have a copy to show anyone I have used the premise many times in talking about the Holocaust to young people. i am a youth director of the National Federation of Temple Youth. i have also been asked in the past to talk about the Holocaust to high school students. the idea of the boy who wears the star being the "good guy" leads into parallels of victim verses victimizer. or which is better, being the hammer or the nail. when is it right to be either.
great film. let me know if i can ever get my own copy.
thank you
I do not remember where I saw this film. it must have been some late night show but it has stuck with me for years, even though i do not have a copy to show anyone I have used the premise many times in talking about the Holocaust to young people. i am a youth director of the National Federation of Temple Youth. i have also been asked in the past to talk about the Holocaust to high school students. the idea of the boy who wears the star being the "good guy" leads into parallels of victim verses victimizer. or which is better, being the hammer or the nail. when is it right to be either.
great film. let me know if i can ever get my own copy.
thank you
Wonderful film
lawelf13 July 2016
This was first shown on BBC2 late one Friday night. My father, mother, brother and sister watched it together as families used to in the 1980's and it really was a wonderful film. It mixed reality and fiction beautifully re creating World War 2 from the perspective of a naive adolescent. To summarize the plot:Essentially a young boy luckily avoids being murdered by the Nazis (the fate the rest of his family and friends suffered). He goes on the run and ends up in Holland where he us taken in by a farmers wife. However the burgomaster is worried and sticks a yellow star on the boy who then reasons that a sheriff wears a star, it is the badge of righteousness, and thus he must clean up the town of villains. Sadly I have not seen the film for years but would dearly love to. I think it is poignant, innocent, heartwarming and really rather beautiful. A lost masterpiece that this is a magical film that deserves to be released on DVD just as much as "Life is Beautiful" or "The Boy in Striped Pajamas" and if anyone is aware of how I can obtain a copy of this film I really would appreciate their help.
Summary as written in movie profile
abbyruben6 December 2005
Saw this movie in an art house theater when it was first released and went back the same week to watch it again. It's stayed with me all these years and I can't believe how difficult it is to find on DVD or video. If anyone has any clues, it'd be greatly appreciated. I loved this movie; it works on so many levels: the writing, acting and directing are superb. I am eager to see how it holds up against my memory as now it's been over 20 years. The young boy was terrific. I have even called the Canadian film board to see if perchance they have a copy. Now going to try Robert's Video in Canada, though the film is not listed on their website.
I have a film print
randywoltz10 June 2020
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