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The headline names of Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson drew me to this one, the type of film that I would normally pass on, given that it concerns a theme that has probably been done a hundred times before. And of course it has, but not always in such a compelling and effective way. It avoids becoming too saccharine or clumsily tugging at over used emotional strings. Yet, there are sweet moments and powerfully emotional moments, but done so subtly that they creep up on you with great effect. Of course the darkest side of human nature is introduced soon enough, as the daily life of a sleepy French town is unmercifully invaded. Having said that, this is still a film that can be watched by the whole family, as it avoids being graphicly violent, whilst leaving viewers in no doubt as to the nature of evil. There are all sorts of lessons to be learned ( or relearned ) regarding how people choose to behave in ordinary as well as extraordinary situations.

As an added bonus, the cinematography and production are exceptional with an effective soundtrack. The young actors look like they are as experienced as the two much older stars mentioned previously.

The expelled bully Julian from Wonder (2017) is trying to fit in hard in his new high school and is still struggling. He does feel guilty but doesn't understand why he was made to pay so much. While he is still unsure, his grandma Sara visits him from Paris and shares her life story as a little girl in the Nazi occupied France during the second World War. She shares her nightmare of being ostracized and how she is forced live a life in hiding with the help of Julian and his family. The boy turns out to be her first love as they bond over an year, helping her hide from Nazi army. Her story is the triumph of humanity, love over hate and Sara knows better that it is time to share this story with Julian, fondly named after her Julian. How he became the light of her life when her's was filled with darkness and hopes to instill the same light in Julian to help him out of his predicament.

The Wonder reference is limited to Julian as the story is entirely that of Sara in the 1940s. Needless to say, this was an out and out sob fest, unlike Wonder which had it's lighter moments. Having said that, White Bird is still a heart touching tale and a well directed one. The story got me captivated instantly though it travels through familiar tropes and the director gets on with the story immediately without wasting much time with Julian from current time. The world during the Nazi dominance was truly heartbreaking as the people turned against Jews, told through Sara and her parents' pov. The scenes where Sara and Julian test their imagination that knows no bounds, were well executed. Despite the predictability, it is still an all important film even for the current times and the stance it takes against hatred is worth a watch. Helen Mirren as Sara shines in her extended cameo while the performances by the leads just melted my heart.

Back in 2017, a movie called WONDER (based on the 2012 book by R. J Palacio) came out, about a disfigured young boy going to public school for the first time. I actually just watched it. I really liked how they showed the story through a few characters' perspectives. Keeping with that trend, a sort-of sequel kind of spinoff has been released called WHITE BIRD (based on the 2019 graphic novel from the same author). Don't worry, you don't have to have seen WONDER to understand what's going on. This is about Julien (Bryse Gheisar), an ex-school bully who is getting a taste of his own medicine at a new preppy school. He gets a visit from his grandmother Sara (Hellen Miren), who tells him a story of her past. In 1942 France, a young Sara (Ariella Glaser) is forced into hiding from the Nazis, taken in by a classmate named Julien (Orlando Schwerdt), who has a lame leg due to polio. Him and his parents (played by Gillian Anderson and Jo Stone-Fewings) hide her in their barn. This is a good movie. The performances of the two leads are great and sparking with chemistry. I was pretty stressed throughout the experience due to the circumstances. It does have an "Anne Frank" vibe, but it's done well here. In dark times, sometimes all we need is kindness and hope. It's a little heavy-handed in some parts, but a very solid film. Remember, kindness can change somebody's life.

This movie actually opens in modern day New York, a boy of 15 (Bryce Gheisar as Julian Albans) is starting at a new school. In conversation he uses the term "the school I left" but was quickly corrected, he was expelled from the school for poor behavior towards a fellow student.

It turns out his grandmother, Helen Mirren as Grand-mère, is a world famous artist in town for a special event honoring her life's work. She visits Julian and she is the one who corrects him. Then, the rest of this movie is basically a flashback to Autumn 1942 in a small French community after the Nazi Germans took control, then spanning 1943 and I presume part of 1944. With a short return to modern day New York at the end of the movie to show how Julian's attitude was changed by his grandmother's story.

British actress Ariella Glaser, about 14 or 15, is the main character, Sara Blum, a Jewish schoolgirl who was persecuted, had to go into hiding, and who grew up to be the artist and grandmother of Julien. She tells him her story to illustrate how attitude and behavior are everything in human existence. Using the analogy that darkness cannot overcome darkness, you need the light and that is the human experience.

Also good is young Australian actor Orlando Schwerdt as Julien Beaumier, a young boy who had been impacted by polio and now wore an awkward leg brace. Julien was a kind person who played a big role in Sara's survival and who was the inspiration for naming the grandson Julian.

Also good is American actress Gillian Anderson as Vivienne Beaumier, helping hide young Sara and serving as a surrogate mother in the absence of her parents.

This is a very good and well-made movie with a worthwhile story. The young actress that plays teenage Sara is remarkably good.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library.

This fictional story's levels of hope are continually overpowered by the political terror that much of the world actually encountered in the early 1940s. It's core message, therefore, is more along the lines of good coming from you holding onto virtues in a world where people primarily protect themselves. That makes it similar to faith-based movies, but without the pressures of praying, reading the scriptures, and committing to a religious lifestyle.

Written French has subtitles, while the occasionally spoken French word or sentence remains entirely untranslated.

Plenty of tense moments. Good acting and flow, but only slightly entertaining.

I haven't the slightest idea why imdb is featuring the worst review of the bunch as a featured review. Couldn't be further from the truth.

This is not a story of the Holocaust, it's a story of hope, kindness and courage in the darkest of times. That's what it promises and that's what it delivers.

No there aren't any Nazi camps portrayed, but it is an accurate depiction of what it felt and what it meant to be a Jew in those times, alienated and fearful for your life.

I haven't seen the Wonder movie and can't compare but a 7.2 rating for this movie is absurdly low. This is one of the standout movies of 2024 for me so far, one of meaning and hope and I wouldn't mind watching it again or recommending to a friend.

So go watch it without being influenced by a discouraging review.

After Julian is expelled from his previous school for bullying Auggie, he struggles with what kind of person he wants to be in his new school. Knowing that he has lost his way, Julian's grandmother decides to share her story with him, including how she once struggled with what kind of person she was and wanted to be. Her story was less about her and more about how a boy, who people treated differently, saved her life, changed who she was, and helped her survive Nazi-occupied France.

This movie is a spinoff of Wonder. The story is touching and heartfelt. It is meant to inspire people to be better; even bullies can be redeemed. The story's setting makes it predictable. The movie is full of emotions, hope, drama, happiness, humor, and sadness. Watching Wonder is optional to enjoy this movie. It might be one to stream on family movie night instead of an outing to the theater.

In a world where violence and action always takes credit, sometimes we need to take a moment and enjoy the kind movies.

This movie truly touched me in so many ways, its character development is outstanding, and the director's way to send the message is phenomenal also. I would truly advise every parent to give this movie a shot and watch it with their children as there are some really deep and meaningful life lessons throughout the movie, a movie that teaches us (specifically the young generation) to love and be kind to others instead being mean and using others to bully our way to the top.

Truly recommended !

This film deserves more attention!!!

I read the graphic novel and the novel to the film beforehand and was absolutely in love with it. So I was desperately waiting for the film to finally be released (which took ages due to several postponements, but well worth the wait.) I had very high expectations for the film and I wasn't disappointed! They were super close to the original story and masterfully turned it into a film that invites you to dream, but also moves you to tears. The film is incredibly moving and quite heartbreaking, but at the same time so incredibly beautiful and magical. I think they beautifully managed the balance between teen romance and historical narrative of nazi-occupied France in the 1940s.

I especially enjoyed Gillian Anderson's performance, which was outstanding! Although she had (as expected) a quite small role, she did once again incredibly well. And her performance really stuck with me. Especially later in the film (which I can't tell about, because I don't want to spoiler), her performance was heartbreakingly impressive and convincing.

But not only Gillian's performance was great, I was really impressed by Ariella Glaser and Orlando Schwerdt who played the main characters Sara and Julien! And come one Helen Mirren as grandmère?

So all in all a beautiful film which deserves all the praise it can get!

GO WATCH THIS FILM.

"White Bird" has a LOT to say about what kindness can do in the face of true evil. In this case, Nazis and more specifically Nazi youth.

Director Marc Forster lately seems to be stuck in fairy tale theater. With "A Man Called Otto" we get the same message. It's like a child's perspective in an adult world. "Christopher Robbin" as well.

It's not that the cruelty in this film is sanitized, it's nearly the backstory behind a crippled young man who falls for a Jewish girl he has to hide. This is how forgettable a film "Jojo Rabbit" is. It is essentially the same plot.

Yet this one is MUCH more cinematic.

With having Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson in it, it is surely elevated to a more adult tone.

Everything happens as it should. There are no surprises. And the "message" isn't the least bit subtle. It hammers the idea into your head, that it almost does the opposite of its intention.

Close call there, Marc.

It is a beautiful story. I read the book and cried at the end. I literally started sobbing at the end of the movie, then I would sit and I would think about it again and start balling again. It was done wonderfully. Exactly like the book. I would definitely recommend. Even just the cinematography and acting skill was just impeccable. They did an excellent job of keeping the story just how the author wrote it. Even the chemistry of the actors was amazing. They didn't try to change the story or clip parts of it out. I also thought it was so neat who it was connected to WONDER. Julian the bully in it grew up and hear the story of his grandmother. Just beautiful.

Julian Albans had been previously expelled from school for bullying. He is struggling to fit into his new private school in New York City. His visiting grandmother (Helen Mirren) tells him about her WWII experience. She was a teenage Jewish girl living in a small French town when the Nazis came. She was rescued by her often-bullied crippled classmate Julien Beaumier. In fact, she only knew him by a cruel nickname and didn't even know his real name.

I like both the modern day story and the past recollection with the compelling connection. I would change the ending a little. It doesn't really need Helen Mirren although one could understand using the superstar. It's all about Julien. He should write a letter to his bullied victim and he should simply sit down next to the girl at lunch. Lunch should be the final shot.

"White Bird" feels a bit like a glossed-over version of history. If you didn't know much about the real events, you might leave thinking the average German was just as much a victim of the Nazis as the Jews. And let's not even get started on the portrayal of the brave priest.

That said, for the target audience-mostly junior high students-this coming-of-age story about a girl in Nazi-occupied France is decent enough.

At least it's better to have an oversimplified view of Nazism than to ignore or rewrite history, which seems to be what too many people prefer nowadays.

One hopes the graphic novel this film is based on did a better job though.

I came in with lowered expectations, but this film absolutely blew me away!

This film was very well-paced, and I found myself fully invested in the development of the main characters. The developments felt honest and meaningful, not just shallow or simply there to further the plot. The main theme of the story, one of human kindness, was well portrayed, and even though we got hints and foreshadow, I was still surprised and gut-wrenched when the plot unfolded. I was very impressed by the acting, especially among the younger roles. The emotional maturity of one of the characters caught me off guard. I didn't expect myself to be so emotionally impacted by this film.

This film is one that everyone, young and old, need to watch. No matter your opinions, we all need to be impacted by the genuine, heart-reaching kindness displayed so effectively in this story. I ugly cried quite a bit after the film, feeling deep sorrow over the enmity prevalent today. I hope this movie impacts you just as deeply.

A truly wonderful movie about the importance of kindness and love put in a cultural-historical context which is very relevant in this day and age when anti-semitism is re-emerging and raising awareness for the intrinsical dangers of anti-semitism via this magnificent movie is therefore extremely important especially because this movie is very accessible and it carries a message that is easy to identify with. The lead characters are visualizing how kindness and love can provide one with the spiritual power to conquer any challenge one can be confronted with in life ... let's hope this movie will be shown all over the world and its message will be carried to as many viewers as possible ...

A film about the human spirit and how it offers us hope in times of darkness and kindness is the key that opens the door to hope. It takes courage to be kind because when kindness can cost you your life, it becomes like a miracle. A film about the human spirit and how it offers us hope in times of darkness; and kindness is the key that opens the door to hope. It takes courage to be kind because when kindness can cost you your life, it becomes like a miracle. You forget many things in life, but you never forget kindness; like love, it stays with you forever. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only the light can do that...and Julian was Sara's light. If there is a legacy from the film, it is that we must all of us use the light within ourselves to stop the injustices of today, for only then can we be certain that the darkness of the past will never be repeated.

Sadly, with all that is happening in the world today, that is a lesson that we have not yet learnt.

Teachable moments can prove integral to the personal growth and development of those coming of age. So it is for 15-year-old Julian Albans (Bryce Gheisar), the central figure featured in the Wonder series of books and graphic novels, the inspiration behind a 2017 film of the same name and this loosely connected new sequel offering. The story here picks up where its predecessor left, with Julian resuming his scholastic life at a new private academy after having been expelled from his prior school. He's not sure how to fit in, especially when confronted by others with similar kinds of bad behavior that got him booted from his old school. Now, though, he has an opportunity to change his destiny and begin anew, largely thanks to a visit from his Parisian grandmother, renowned artist Sara Blum (Helen Mirren), who visits his family in New York to attend a museum retrospective of her work. Sara can see that Julian is struggling, and so she launches into a story about her life when she was his age in hopes that it will help. She chronicles in detail the ordeals she faced when living in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. As a Jew, she sought to evade captivity at the hands of the Germans and their French collaborators, receiving unexpected aid from a kind young classmate (fittingly named Julien (Orlando Schwerdt)) who was afflicted with polio and struggled to walk with the aid of a crutch. Having been the subject of unrelenting, unprompted ridicule due to his disability, Julien could relate to the scorn being inflicted on young Sara (Ariella Glaser), stepping in to protect her with the help of his compassionate parents (Gillian Anderson, Jo Stone-Fewings). Through a series of extended flashbacks, the elder Sara thus relates her story, focusing on the virtues of what kindness can accomplish for those in need, a message her grandson needs to hear if he expects to make a fresh start, just the kind of teachable moment she believes he can use. Director Marc Forster has thus capably assembled an enlightening tale for impressionable young adult audiences, especially in an age when those values are being severely tested in all corners of contemporary society. Tolerance, compassion and kindness are clearly the principal virtues being championed here (admittedly sometimes a little too obviously, clichéd and heavy-handedly for my tastes), but sometimes it takes such a commanding approach to drive these messages home, especially in frequently self-absorbed times like these. The film also tends to sag in the middle, with pacing that could stand to be quickened, garrulous dialogue that could have been sharper and more succinct, and periodic changes in tone that are a little too drastic to be credible. Nevertheless, there are many compelling and heartwarming moments in this release, making it a good family viewing option and a suitable choice for younger viewers who might find a grittier treatment of its subject matter to be a little too intense for them to handle. Either way, there are valuable lessons to be gained from screening "White Bird" despite its shortcomings, and that could go a long way toward helping to reshape the values needed for creating a better world.

I recently enjoyed this incredibly moving story that left a deep impression on me. After reading the book, I was so emotionally invested that I found myself in tears by the end. The movie adaptation of the story had the same effect on me; I was deeply moved to the point of sobbing. The film was a faithful and beautifully crafted portrayal of the book, staying true to the original story and characters. The cinematography and acting were outstanding, and the chemistry between the actors was truly amazing. What struck me the most was the seamless connection to the story of WONDER, particularly the revelation about the character Julian. This aspect added an extra layer of depth to the narrative, making it even more impactful and beautiful. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a touching and genuine story.

I always find it hard to watch World War movies without shedding tears for the innocent people who lost their lives in real life. It humbles me and makes me appreciate the things I have. I am grateful for it every single day. God ✨🙌🏼

This magical film, White Bird, demonstrates the power to dream, to laugh, and to enjoy the presence of others despite the evil acts of some.

From the world of Wonder and Academy Award-winning director Marc Forster, comes the sequential film White Bird, which takes us a step further into the life of Julian (Bryce Gheisar) who must finally face the consequences of past actions -- particularly the bullying of Auggie Pullman, a 10-year-old boy born with facial differences. Expelled from school as a result of his unkind acts toward others, Julian gets a taste of his own medicine as he is alienated and challenged to make friends at his new school. His grandmother, Sara Blum (Helen Mirren), pays him a visit with hopes of sharing her haunting and deeply moving story about her survival in Nazi-occupied France during one of the darkest moments of history.

Intricately narrated, White Bird gives us two stories; one about Julian's present-day struggles and the other a stirring tale of his grandmother's harsh struggles during World War II. Flashbacks of young Sara (Ariella Glaser) and her courageous classmate Julian (Orlando Schwerdt), demonstrate for viewers how traumatic life was being a Jew during Nazi-run territories. Their relationship is more than one of survival -- it is one of kindness, love, and sacrifice. What I love most about White Bird is the visualization of young Sara Blum's life and how her story had a purpose. I connected with her story emotionally as she teaches her grandson the valuable lesson of showing kindness. The stories of two troubled teens -- young Sara and her grandson Julian, are well-channeled and they flow with ease. Although both stories contain heartache; they both end in hope. This film is a masterpiece filled with a nice balance of warmth and wisdom. The historic drama combined with the modern coming-of-age scenes adds a special touch to White Bird and kept me engaged throughout the entire film. A box of tissues nearby is a must while watching this film. White Bird has many teachable moments and contains many life lessons. This is a must-see family film.

The film's message rings loud and clear - it's a message of kindness and how kindness must be shared and practiced. Hate surrounds us; that's a fact of life. However, the smallest gestures of goodwill can lead to the greatest change. This film is also about bravery as that is what allows us to take risks and speak up for those who don't have a voice. It takes a lot of courage sometimes to be kind.

I give White Bird 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. White Bird opens in theaters on October 4, 2024. Be sure to check it out. You're not going to want to miss this one! By Dominic D., KIDS FIRST!

Make no mistake this movie is extremely well made as far as production values go .And the work of Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren are completely without fault and the movie develops quite nicely with genuine pathos that is not overwrought And the two actors (Orlando Schwerdt and Arilella Glaser) playing the adolescents in the film are truly a marvel to behold ; could not be better. But it felt Disney like in the beginning and the skewed toward Lifetime / Hallmark as the film reached its conclusion. Imagine a damsel tied to the railroad tracks with an oncoming train in the frame. My conclusion, make no mistake , the screenplay starts out OK and dithers into predictable cliche. A film can never be any good , esp one like this without the most essential element : a story that approaches plausibility. And a footnote, I wonder if Anderson and Mirren had a contract with the studio to make this film in order to headline in some other movies. Can't imagine they thought the screenplay was any good.

About a month ago, after watching the trailer, I did not feel I was in the mood for this movie. It seemed like another movie about cruelty and perseverance. Today, I noticed Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson were in the cast so I chose it.

The cinematography, set design, costume and all those things we only notice if there is something wrong was just perfect. Orlando Schwerdt, Mirren, Anderson and the evil of Jim Mathews were all spectacular performances. Narrated by Mirren, this movie was a must see for anyone specially if they have kids entering any school.

The landscape of this beautiful French town questions my sanity of why I don't travel enough. Overall, this is a story about kindness and the lack of it. The pressure of trying to fit in and being afraid; not understanding what true strength really is. Since Mirren was also in the present, I felt safe watching the story unfold because she would survive. I wish it could have been presented a tiny bit differently so this safety would have been removed. Besides this, the movie delivered the message of choice and strength.

We all have little birds in our lives; we might not know we have them until you are in a position that offers it. Then, the little bird shows up and it gives you an existential placement.

I recommend you watch this film and check the room for light and wonder. It's so true, kindness is stronger than all the other options available. We are but memory of all the choices we make in life and the history we create. We develop our own paths in a direction and it can be modified at any moment. The most courageous people are all around us. The wolves will one day come for us all. Will you be ready ?

This film is absolutely first class. Orlando and Ariella are stars in the making and excellent leads.

Regardless of the fact that this storyline should always evoke strong emotions, the script is carefully put together, powerfully delivered and carefully filmed.

The fabulous narration by Helen Mirren provides a superb mechanism and platform for engaging with teenagers.

I could watch this again it was so good and can't wait to see the acting careers of Orlando and Ariella flourish in years to come.

Often films are over hyped and fail to live up to expectations but this is well worth a watch!

I want to start off saying that I am not a typical movie reviewer. I rarely make reviews. In fact, this is either the first or second one I've made on this site ever.

I chose this movie to go and see in theatre's based on the trailers I've seen and primarily because I've always had a deep fascination with WW2, and being a WW2 buff, I was interested in seeing it

This has got to be one of the most amazing movies I've ever seen. I was mind blown by the realism and beauty of it all, it had be sobbing in tears all throughout the movie. It has far exceeded my expectations.

This movie really managed to capture the brutality executed by the germans. In so many other WW2 style movies, they are often portrayed as men "just doing their job", but in this movie we see the complete ruthlessness and merciless of the german nazis

This film has many inspirational and moraliatic messages involved in it and manages to encapture the embodiment of kindness itself and how one act of so, can impact a person's life for years to come.

It's not very long into the movie we see Julian, a boy who was barely noticed by Sarah, who is a jew, but he rescued her from the nazis who were trying to find her and the other Jewish class mates, and brought her to his family, where they took her in and where she stayed in hiding for almost 2 years.

On a personal note, it was amazing to see someone of such virtue and selflessness portrayed in this. The fact that this relationship was not kindled and fueled by lust or typical hormones, or any such selfish gain. The fact that he countlessly risked his life for her, every day for nearly 2 years, taking care of her, despite the fact she ignored him as class mates together, loving and encouraging her in her artistic abilities, with zero alterior motives, and even putting aside any personal feelings, making her safety his priority above all else, asking nothing in return, is the epitome of a true and selfless love.

If only more people from today's youth and our younger generations could see what love truly is (and not in the very selfish manner it is deemed in today's society) as well as, the heavy impact of kindness in and of itself, and if only more people from today's generations could be made more aware of the realism and of those treacherous times that were a very signicant part of our world history .