Watch Kids' Reviews of
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN

If you have a child who has never seen a foreign film, this would be a great one to start with! Belle and Sebastian is a French movie, by Nicholas Vanier, with English subtitles.

Belle and Sebastian is about a young boy, Sebastian and the friendship he makes with Belle, a large dog. She is being blamed for killing the sheep in the village. In fact, the villagers call her "the beast."

The movie is set in Nazi-occupied France. There are refugees in the village always escaping at night over the snow-covered mountains into Switzerland. Sebastian is told to stay away from both this part of the mountain and "the beast." But, he can't resist. He finds and tries to protect "the beast," who he names Belle.

Sebastian meets up with Belle every day and they run in the fields and play in the snow. He shows her places to hide from the angry villagers and from the German Nazi soldiers. She is Sebastian's friend and he believes that it is not her who is killing the sheep.

The scenery in this film is incredible! The snow-covered mountains, grassy hillsides, waterfalls, rocks and panoramic vistas will take your breath away. There are lots of aerial shots in the film that make you wish you lived in France.

Parents should know that there is some drinking, lying and cursing, but the characters are trying to do their best given the given circumstances. It can't be easy having your little village be taken over by soldiers. Over-all, the message this movie gives is a good one. "Protect your friends and always try to do the right thing."

I recommend this movie for ages ten to eighteen. This is a great age level to introduce appreciation of sub-titled movies. I give Belle and Sebastian four out of five stars for amazing scenery and great acting.

Reviewed by Katie G., KIDS FIRST! Critic

Belle and Sebastian is an adventurous type of movie. It takes place in the mountains of France. This film is about a about a beast that is trying to kill all of Sebastian's grandfather's sheep. But once Sebastian meets the dog he realizes that the dog is a girl and decides to call her Belle. So, it is up to Sebastian to protect Belle from his grandfather and the men who are trying to kill her.

The message of this film is to not judge a book by its cover. Everyone judges Belle by calling her a dirty wild beast. But truly she is a very loveable and a great dog.

My favorite character is Angelina. She is Sebastian's cousin. She's very helpful, caring and she is always there for Sebastian.

I did not have a favorite scene because I enjoyed the whole movie. The actors, do a fantastic job translating the movie from French to English.

If you're the type of person that enjoys adventures, this is the perfect movie for you. I recommend this movie for boys and girls ages 8 to 13 and give this movie 3 out of 5 shining stars.

You can find this movie at film festivals everywhere and on DVD. Reviewed by Kendyl Powell, KIDS FIRST! Critic, age 12.

This beautifully set film in the French Alps follows the adventures of a young, free-spirited boy Sebastian and the dog who he learns to trust and names Belle. The opening shot of Sebastian dangling over the side of mountain to rescue a young sheep whose mother has been shot by hunters, indicates to us a young brave boy who feels at home in his elements and exhibits great will and courage.

This film takes place during World War II when the German soldiers are on the lookout for anyone in the French Resistance who is trying to smuggle Jewish refugees through the mountains to Switzerland. It is here, once again, that Sebastian shows his true colors. With the assistance of his tried and true dog, and a determined Angelina, wife of Dr. Guillaume who has hidden a Jewish family in the mountains, they fulfill their mission to bring the family to safety.

The subplot of the French resistance coupled with daily life twists and turns, shows Sebastian and Belle both exhibiting bravery and determination. The combinations makes for a suspenseful, well-told story that warmed my heart and I believe will do the same for children and their families. Reviewed by KIDS FIRST! Critic Terry S.

This is one of the most visually appealing titles I've reviewed. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. There are lots of different settings such as the mountains, villages, caves and meadows. The storyline is heartwarming even though the topics faced are difficult to approach. The unappealing parts are animals being shot pretty graphically, the heaviness of war and the heartbreak the main character, Sebastian faces. The title shows the importance of kindness towards humans and animals and I find that is very valuable. It deals with some very serious social situations and, if the child is able to comprehend these concepts, it could be a great educational tool. This film brings up many questions that a parent could explain such as why some humans are cruel to animals and why is there war.

The characters are complex as is the setting. There are people fleeing and hiding from the government. The "good guys" portray respect, kindness, generosity and sympathy. The vocabulary is age appropriate but I would be cautious about showing this to a child who has experienced the ravages of war him or herself. The story is well presented and easy to follow. Reviewed by KIDS FIRST! juror Elizabeth B.

In the snowy Alps of occupied France, young Sebastian befriends an enormous yet gentle sheepdog he calls Belle. With Nazis in their village rooting out the resistance fighters helping Jewish refugees cross the border, Belle and Sebastian will have the chance to become the village's heroes.