Belle and Sebastian

A film set in the French Alps during the Second World War. Sébastien is a boy of six. He never knew his mother; an old man in the village, César, is raising him. There is a fear in the village: a beast is said to be killing sheep in the mountains. The villagers set traps to shoot it. Sébastien meets a large dog on the mountain. The animal is injured, frightened and keeps away from people. The boy feeds it and in time can get close. He names her Belle. At the same time there is another matter in the village. German soldiers hold the border and a smuggling route passes through; people are being taken across to Switzerland. The village teacher and a few others are involved, and the Germans are investigating. The two lines join at the end: Sébastien knows the safe way across the mountain and his dog can lead. The narrative sets a hard ground for a child and shows the war not as background but as a direct threat. The source is Cécile Aubry's children's book; the story was first known in France as a television series. Félix Bossuet plays Sébastien and Tchéky Karyo plays César. Nicolas Vanier directed. It was shot on location in the Alps. A fine choice for anyone who likes family films and mountain landscape. For a viewer expecting a light children's film, the narrative makes room for the violence of war.