Viewed on DVD. Restoration = seven (7) stars. There's an old saying in acting circles: Never do a scene with a baby (or a dog) unless you want that scene stolen. In this film it's kids (and a dog). And the adult actors suffer big time both in the slice-of-life story line and by being constantly upstaged on screen. (And their characters don't look especially happy about matters.) This is a deliciously outrageous film about precocious preteens, but meant for entertaining grown ups (who may also be dealing with unruly kids in the midst of a major cultural upheaval). Just under a dozen child actors are on display with at least two in virtually every scene. Not only do they carry the film, they are the film! Many juveniles you have seen before (and will see again) in the director's movies. The film, though, is too long by at least a third and continuously grows in tediousness and repetition. Several of the director's trademarked shots of white under garments drying on clotheslines are on display plus electric train engines that constantly flash by (they seem to be blown-up models in rear-screen projection) for no apparent reasons (other than to, well, add flash). The restoration is OK, but wear and deterioration artifacts are visible here and there. Piano score is fine. Bottom line: Fun to watch for about an hour, but ... . WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.
Review of I Was Born, But...
