Search - The Fox and the Child on DVD

Bethel M. from GALT, CA
Reviewed on 6/14/2013...

Thought-provoking story about well-intentioned people and truly wild animals, and the collision that can result. The cinematography is fabulous. I can't say I exactly 'liked' this movie, but it is one that has really made me think, and I often remember it.

Remarkable, Gorgeous Film

Daniel G. Lebryk | 06/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The definition of what family entertainment is all about - a lovable story, absolutely stunning scenery, and perfect photography - that is meant for everyone. The film is narrated wonderfully by Kate Winslet. She has a special wonderful sweet voice, that is never sappy.

This is the story of a girl who befriends a fox. It's the slow getting to know eachother, the dance where they both mistrust each other, build to trust, and then a realization that this is a wild animal that should fear humans. Almost the classic love story.

The synopsis really misses out on the spectacular scenery, the images of nature, the gorgeous animals, and the incredible sound. From the film credits, most of the locations are in Ain, a small town north of Lyon / East of Macon, France. This is the beginning of the French Alps, the foothills where there is a variety of landscape from fields to fairly high mountains (green all the way to the top though). The forests are green and lush, the snow amazing, the fall colors superb; it's a perfect filming location. The animal scenes are stunning, how they did this filming is frequently impossible to understand - simply amazing they got those shots. The sound was almost another character - birds, rain, thunder, woodpeckers, every sound imaginable in the woods was recorded clearly.

Luc Jacquet (did an outstanding job directing this film. He is best known for March of the Penguins (March of the Penguins (Widescreen Edition)). And this film follows in the same mold, he understands how to tell animal stories, capture them on film, and translate them into a movie. Isabelle Noel-Bruneau is the sweet redheaded star of the movie along side the fox. They make a beautiful couple.

Most will think, G rated nature film, why would I care? This movie very gradually pulls you in with beautiful scenery, and Kate Winslet's gorgeous voice. The story builds gradually and you begin to care very much about what happens to the fox. It's a classic story told in a straighforward manner.

There is a subtle feeling of Jean Craighead George in this film, (My Side of the Mountain Trilogy (My Side of the Mountain / On the Far Side of the Mountain / Frightful's Mountain)). Studying nature and trying to understand what nature says to us.

The movie is rated G. Everyone should enjoy this film. For the sensitive child, very near the end of the film the fox is in the girl's room and feels trapped. It runs all over the room and eventually crashes through the window. You are expected to believe the fox has died. The girl carries it to the woods. That might be a bit tough for some children who have very sensitive parents. I mention this only because of the flack from Marley and Me, with the ending. This scene is not as intense, but there is an animal that appears to die. Some parents may feel obliged to protect their children.

If there is one small problem with the DVD - there is only one language available. The film is presented in English. I would have liked the option to have French with subtitles. The DVD also does not include a making of featurette. As much as I hate those, I sure would have enjoyed seeing this particular making of.

A gorgeous film that everyone should love.
"

Beautiful film

James Frick | 06/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a touching and beautifully photographed movie. The directing and photography are amazing. Bertille Noël-Bruneau's performance is excellent. There are some sequences that would be frightening, disturbing or sad for young children. For ages 8+."

Beautiful to look at, too dark an end for preschoolers

old mom | King George, VA United States | 03/06/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Spoiler alert -but if you have very young children you might want to know...This is a difficult movie to rate. Unquestionably the photography is 5 stars, and the story telling is fine but I don't expect a G rated film to have such a bloody scene for a major character (the fox). I watched this with my 4yr old and I definitely was not prepared for such a dark ending (although at the very end the fox does appear to be recovered -but at that point recovery seemed a bit implausible and I wondered if the movie maker had tacked it on). The girl gets the fox in her room and in a panic it crashes through the (apparently very weak) window into a bloody heap on the driveway below. The ending also seemed to undo much of the message of the rest of the movie. They had been "friends" but now the narrator says humans and foxes "could never be friends" -so was all the joy and wonder earlier in the movie an illusion? And why does she say "foxes understand love" ? In what way? The messages for a child were very mixed. All her involvement with nature was great -but then maybe it was all wrong. People hunt foxes (bad), wolves go after foxes (and child) -exciting adventure.
Also while the fox is clearly not safe in her world she apparently was safe in his (10 yr olds alone in the woods can escape bears and wolves and never really get lost). I don't mind those things working in a movie but then why not let the whole fox friendship thing work? It is the picking and choosing where to be realistic and where to be fantastic that ultimately didn't leave me wanting to watch the film again -at least not all the way through. Maybe just enjoy the photography and forget the story and the last 10 minutes."