A Estrela de Laura

Laura's Star is a magical story based on the hugely popular books of Klaus Baumgart and it is about a 7 year old girl who has moved from the country to the city with her younger brother and parents. She is unhappy about having to leave her friends and her garden (she lives on a top floor apartment in a German city now) and is a loner who doesn't want to make new friends.

One night Laura sees a little star falling out of the sky and it lands in a park not far from Laura's bedroom window, she rushes out to find a broken star and she takes it upon herself to make it better. The star is, of course, a magic star and whatever it touches it brings to life albeit in the form of her 2 soft toys but the star cannot survive if it stays on earth.

This is one of those movies that does just enough to keep the mind of a 7 year old focused for 80 minutes but rather lets the adult down however girls will love it no doubt.

Laura's Star is a beautiful story about seven year old Laura who has moved from the country to the town with her family, Mum, Dad and little brother. She's lonely and needs a friend. One night whilst out gazing out into the night, she sees something fall from the sky. She follows the light and finds that it was a star which, having been broken in the fall, needs someone to care for it. I won't spoil the story for those who haven't read the book!

The animation is beautiful, and there's just enough detail added to make a full length movie without taking away from the original story.

Watch Laura's Star through the eyes of an infant and it's MAGICAL!

No in-jokes. No adult themes. Not even a guest celebrity voice-over. Just a simple animated tale about a little girl finding a damaged star in the park at night near her new house, and her subsequent adventures as she adopts it and hides it from nosy grown-ups. Later as it loses it's glow she has to make a decision... be selfish and keep her newfound celestial body and watch it slowly die, or release it back into the sky where it belongs so it can shine forth once again. I think you can see where this is going...

Still, there is plenty here to admire, including the attractive synchronicity of traditional and computer animation so that it resembles a Hayao Miyazaki film (but there the resemblance ends) as well as the inherent charm in the central premise, which is expanded on well from a children's short story. If you're wondering why sometimes the words don't match the lips, this is because it was initially a German film with re-recorded dialogue for the English speaking market. This doesn't spoil the enjoyment factor though, and it makes for a fine 80 minute diversion for the kids (and a few patient adults). 6/10

Laura's Star is an extremely amiable children's movie full of imagination and charm. Something tells me Hayao Miyazaki may have been an influence on De Rycker and Rothkirch, since Laura's Stern (or Laura's Star) carries with it shades of Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service and, to a slightly lesser degree, My Neighbour Totoro. I could be wrong of course, but it's easy to draw this comparison simply judging from the aesthetics and the likable narrative of this film and, if anything, it's meant as a compliment. Still, there's a hint of triumphalism here in that I'm glad to see one of my favourite film-makers having a bearing on other directors and animators, as well they should.

In any case, I have absolutely no hesitation recommending Laura's Star to anyone with young children - or for that matter people like myself who just happen to have a weakness for all things cutesy and good-natured.

My daughter and her class watch this film at school during wet breaks and she was desperate to have it at home and watch it all the way through. As a parent always on the look out for an alternative to Disney for my kids and a lover of all things German, I am delighted with this film. The characters of Laura and Tommy have depth and Laura is just naughty enough to be adventurous!I love that she is not at all princessy and is into space and flying. There is lots of great stuff to get kids thinking in this film and some issues of moving home, being kind and sticking together are tackled in a non patronising way. Highly recommended.