71
Metascore
17 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasArtfully, even elegantly constructed, Secret Lives skillfully probes issues of conflicting emotions and allegiances in a dark time, yet emerges as a loving affirmation of humanity's remarkable potential for goodness in the face of pervasive evil.
- 80Village VoiceLeslie CamhiVillage VoiceLeslie CamhiSlesin's film is a profound meditation on the resilience of children -- their ability to take sustenance from whatever love is available -- and on the persistent presence of the child hidden within each grown-up.
- 80TV Guide MagazineKen FoxTV Guide MagazineKen FoxServes as a powerful tribute to a group of heroes who gave those they saved something nearly as valuable as life: proof that the best of the human spirit can endure even through the worst of times.
- 80The New RepublicStanley KauffmannThe New RepublicStanley KauffmannIt lets us glimpse once again the stubborn, if slender, persistence of the humane.
- 75Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittAlthough it isn't very original in style, this heartfelt account is always instructive and frequently very touching.
- 75New York Daily NewsJack MathewsNew York Daily NewsJack MathewsSometimes painful, often joyous, and altogether illuminating.
- 75Boston GlobeJanice PageBoston GlobeJanice PageThese children are indeed the faces of war. It's just harder to recognize them because they're the ones someone cared enough to save.
- 75Miami HeraldMarta BarberMiami HeraldMarta BarberThe stories touch our sensibilities, but the documentary never sugarcoats the childrens' experiences.
- 70VarietyVarietyTheir interwoven stories, backgrounded by concise narration, well-chosen archival imagery and an evocative score by John Zorn, make for an absorbing and revealing examination of the ties that bind.
- 50New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoIt's a touching story that deserves to be told. Unfortunately, Slesin's presentation is conventional and uninspired (lots of boring talking heads). These heroes deserve better.