'The Search' is about the devastating consequences of WWII. What makes it heartbreaking is the fact that the film focuses on the effects the war had on children.
The film follows Karel Malik, a boy who was separated from his family during the war. Along with other similar kids, Karel is rescued by the UNRRA officials in Berlin, but due to a misunderstanding, he runs away and on a chance encounter meets Steve, an American soldier.
Is the film a bit predictable? Yes. Is the film a bit simplistic? Yes. Can I nitpick about a lot of things like the unnecessary voice- over at the beginning or the lack of depth to certain characters or even the slightly contrived plotting to arrive at the ending scene? Yes. However it is such a sweet, feel-good and affectionately made film that it won me over. Fred Zinnemann and the screenwriters were clearly trying to make a feel good film after the trauma of war and wanted to instill a sense of optimism for the future in the minds of the viewers.
Like most Hollywood films of this era, Zinnemann isn't doing anything too bold or flashy with the camera, but even then the camera movements are swift and he succeeds in creating a powerfully bleak scenario in the first few scenes. The shots of the young, dirty, haggard and rickety kids running helplessly in the streets with the desolate and ruinous post war Berlin in the background were chilling. These scenes reminded me a lot of Italian neo-realism, specially Rossellini's War Trilogy.
One can easily view the story as an allegory for the war itself with Karel representing young Europe. Karel's young life falls apart and he completely loses his spirit. But with the help of the American soldier(Steve), he gets back to his feet and ends up with a chance of having a fulfilling and optimistic future. The allegorical subtext of helpless Europe requiring America's help to survive and have a realistic chance at a good future after the war is undeniably present.
The acting is good. The characters as a whole don't have too much depth, but they are all likable and they all embody the humanistic spirit of the film as a whole.
'The Search' is not really a film I'll call great. It has its problems that I mentioned previously in the review and it doesn't really engage in too much narrative or character related depth. But it manages to create a humanistic, optimistic and feel-good vibe that I as a viewer couldn't escape. If a film manages to derive something hopeful out of something as hopeless as a war, it has to be admired and appreciated.
The film follows Karel Malik, a boy who was separated from his family during the war. Along with other similar kids, Karel is rescued by the UNRRA officials in Berlin, but due to a misunderstanding, he runs away and on a chance encounter meets Steve, an American soldier.
Is the film a bit predictable? Yes. Is the film a bit simplistic? Yes. Can I nitpick about a lot of things like the unnecessary voice- over at the beginning or the lack of depth to certain characters or even the slightly contrived plotting to arrive at the ending scene? Yes. However it is such a sweet, feel-good and affectionately made film that it won me over. Fred Zinnemann and the screenwriters were clearly trying to make a feel good film after the trauma of war and wanted to instill a sense of optimism for the future in the minds of the viewers.
Like most Hollywood films of this era, Zinnemann isn't doing anything too bold or flashy with the camera, but even then the camera movements are swift and he succeeds in creating a powerfully bleak scenario in the first few scenes. The shots of the young, dirty, haggard and rickety kids running helplessly in the streets with the desolate and ruinous post war Berlin in the background were chilling. These scenes reminded me a lot of Italian neo-realism, specially Rossellini's War Trilogy.
One can easily view the story as an allegory for the war itself with Karel representing young Europe. Karel's young life falls apart and he completely loses his spirit. But with the help of the American soldier(Steve), he gets back to his feet and ends up with a chance of having a fulfilling and optimistic future. The allegorical subtext of helpless Europe requiring America's help to survive and have a realistic chance at a good future after the war is undeniably present.
The acting is good. The characters as a whole don't have too much depth, but they are all likable and they all embody the humanistic spirit of the film as a whole.
'The Search' is not really a film I'll call great. It has its problems that I mentioned previously in the review and it doesn't really engage in too much narrative or character related depth. But it manages to create a humanistic, optimistic and feel-good vibe that I as a viewer couldn't escape. If a film manages to derive something hopeful out of something as hopeless as a war, it has to be admired and appreciated.