This is not a flawless movie. First of all, it is a bit sadder and darker than necessary. Nothing to really frighten children's, but still a little bit sad, like when the squirrel dies or the hedgehogs are killed. The overall tone is bending to the dark side. The producer could have chose other, more luminous episodes of the books to balance that feeling. That said, this is also where the movie is the closest to the books of La Comtesse de Ségur. Les Malheurs de Sophie is not primarily a joy full story. It's the story of a little girl who is hurt by life more than the average. The purpose of La Comtesse de Ségur was not to tell a fairy tale but to educated children. The main idea of the book is kept in this movie. I also appreciated the children play which are very natural (at least in the French original voices). Adults are not so convincing. It's a special movie that may appeal to a very narrow slice of ages. I would say, from 7 to 12 maybe.
Costumes are nice and the historical context is well done. And it shows children exactly as they may use to live, play and mourn before electricity and iPhone. There is nothing sexual nor really violent in this movie.
Costumes are nice and the historical context is well done. And it shows children exactly as they may use to live, play and mourn before electricity and iPhone. There is nothing sexual nor really violent in this movie.