Customer Reviews

The Fox and the Child

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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. 1/27/2010 Update - the following paragraph reveals the ending of the 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.

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.

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+.

A handful of other reviewers have already touched on all of the fine attributes of this unique film. I will add, as someone who lives & spends most of my time in a very natural setting, that these types of encounters & relationships, between man & other species, are quite common. It's all about boundaries, respect & putting in the time to observe & associate; and this tale drives home these very points in such a magical - if not fanciful - way.

This is a beautifully filmed & executed story. If you liked "The Bear," and/or "Bambi," you will be in good company with "The Fox & the Child." Highly recommended!

Recently I watched the "Fox and the Child" with the sound turned off as not to be distracted by the voice over. The film was a new experience. I have not experienced technical aspects of this quality in a film since Terrace Malick's "Days of Heaven;" especially the glorious cinematography of Nestor Almendroes.

The "fox" re,minded me of the great work of Carroll Ballard and Caleb Deschanel ("the Black Stallion")and the gift Steven Spielberg has for working with children. "E.T. & Empire of the Sun."

I wonder what Gene Siskel and Pauline Kael would have thought of the film. Where are some of the finest critics today- Roger Ebert, Jeffery Lyons, Manohla Dargis, Chris Hewitt, and Peter Travers? They should comment on the "Fox and the Child".

Why wasn't the "Fox and the Child" released for the big screen in the USA?

The Europeans have revolutionized the "nature film" when one considers the excellence of movies such as the BBC "Blue Planet" "Life of Birds", or Cousteau's "Sea Ghosts." This movie about the growth of a friendship between a wild fox, its young, and a 10 year old (adorable) girl is equally as wonderful. True, it has something of the Disney nature film aspect to it...but it so outstandingly photographed as to be the top of the class.

There are some tense moments in the film that add some dimension to the story such as the moment when both the "Fox and the Child" have to confront and escape 4 wild, hungry wolves in the forest. And there are tender moments when the fox comes to trust the girl after so many satisfactory encounters.

The director who produced the stunning "March of the Penguins" is behind this film...remember, he has the most exacting standards. I simply can't say enough positives about the cinematography of the wildlife in the French Alps. And Kate Winslet tells the girl's story in sweet prose - it's the experience of having a beautiful book read aloud.

This is the kind of family film that we need in this society. I am going to give lots of copies to friends and relatives over the Christmas holidays. Trust me, you can't go wrong with this one.

This is a wonderful film to remind us that God's creation is a very beautiful place, esp in a time when so many people see little more than pavement and computer screens much of the time. It hearkens back to a time when we lived in tune with nature and the cycles of the seasons. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful and there is a nice little story to under gird it too. Very enjoyable for the entire 94 minutes.

Its wonderful photogrpahy and its truly beautifully done. But the end is too sad for little ones like I have. It would destroy them to have the ending as it is. Just wish it could have ended on a more positive note.

I am a 64 year old woman and occasionally find a movie made for children enjoyable to watch. However, this movie, "The Fox and the Child" was even more than that. It held my attention the entire time. The patience or determination this child had in making friends with this fox was extraordinary. And the way she would wander off with the fox to follow him and be with him once they were friends. There are some scenes that would probably be a little scary for the very young children......but it was a wonderful movie and the scenery was beautiful. It was not your typical Disney movie, though I find a lot of them good as well. I love movies about animals. The movie is mostly narrated, but there are some scenes where the actors are talking.............but not the animals of course. :)
I think most adults would enjoy watching this movie as much as their children.

Visually sumptuous, the Fox and the Child is a small enchanting family film that is poetically tender and often precious. It's the story of a young girl and her befriended red fox. Kate Winslet's sparse narration is perfect. This family film rivals the visual beauty of The Black Stallion. "Fox" also ranks with the best family fare- Babe, Born Free, Duma, and The Yearling.