World War Two nostalgia seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy, Wendall, played by Lukas Haas, the young lad who was so convincing in Witness. When Wendall's mother dies, his father decides to join the army and packs him off to his country grandparents, a move that's a considerable culture shock for the LA boy. As if all this isn't enough, Wendall begins to build bonds with his new friends and family only to experience more pain and suffering. The events couldn't be more dramatic, but their impact is lessened by the second-hand telling filtered through the boy. There's some nice acting and decent Forties sets but, although things are well handled from the technical point of view, the result is nothing more than a tragic story that sadly doesn't engage.


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