Belle and Sebastian

This week’s film is French, but is dubbed on most streaming platforms.

In the French Alps during World War II, a resourceful seven-year-old orphan named Sebastian lives with his adoptive grandfather and other family members. When sheep begin mysteriously disappearing from their village, the locals blame a large white dog they call “the Beast” and organize a hunt to kill it. But Sebastian discovers that the misunderstood animal is actually gentle and forms a secret friendship with her, naming her Belle.

As their bond grows, Sebastian learns that some villagers are secretly helping Jewish refugees escape across the mountains into Switzerland, carefully avoiding the watchful German soldiers stationed nearby. With patrols increasing and the mountain passages becoming more treacherous, Belle’s strength and knowledge of the mountain paths might just prove invaluable to those in need, if only the villagers can see beyond their fear of “the Beast.”

Belle and Sebastian showcases the value of looking past initial appearances and the importance of protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Older viewers may also notice how the moral choices made by adults in the film profoundly shape the child’s worldview and inspire his own decisions. Rated PG, the film is family friendly, but does include some mild violence and frightening scenes (though much of the war-related drama remains very tame).

Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Rated PG
91% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide
Is it streaming?