The War Boy (1985) User Reviews

A much too naive central character does in any chance for believability

[dbborroughs · 3/10 · 29 August 2009]

Give this film points for trying something different but at the same time it loses a few for having it fail.

The plot follows teenage-ish young boy living on what would be the Eastern front of the Second World War in Europe as he has to deal with family matters, a traveling show, the German occupiers and the liberating Communists. Its almost what it was like in small town in the mountains during the war, but not quite.

This is a deeply flawed film that has a couple of serious things working against it.

First there is simply too much going on for an 85 minute movie. Its a war film, a coming of age film and a few other things all rolled into one. Its just too much.

The other most serious flaw is that the lead character is was was too innocent. Everything strikes him as if he was just waking up from a dream, from the family problems, to the behavior of the two sides that are fighting, to the other people in his life. It is simply not possible to have a character this incredibly naive and have the film work. What is is emotionally five? It just doesn't work and the whole film collapses on it self.

I can not recommend this film because it just doesn't work.

European Mystique, without the Hollywwod Sugarcoat.

[wiltvid · 10/10 · 24 November 2007]

If you like unformulated movies, where the "good ending" is in question, where realities remain complex, you will love this movie. Hungary in the fall of 1944. The Soviet Army has just reached Hungary. The Hungarian Fascist Party and the German army tighten the grip, on what is left of fascist territory. Little Jan's parents have been accused of defeatism and being arrested. Like the making of a fine sword, Jan's character is tempered by these events.Hidden reserves of physical and moral strenght draw from the very core of his being. The War Boy is action, suspense and tender human drama combined in a true portrayal of courage during a period of tremendous strife. I can only explain the "bad ratings" from other viewers,who were expecting the usual diet of an American type of family drama. That must be due to the way this movie was marketed. And probably viewed by people who usually do not watch movies that contain too much historical weight.