Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Earnest WWII tale of Jewish child separated from parents.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Adira
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
It's May 1941 in Germany. ADIRA (Andrea Fantauzzi), a young girl, is terrified when members of the Nazi Gestapo arrive at her family home to arrest her devoted parents. In anticipation of just such a moment, Adira is carefully hidden, armed with a few supplies and explicit instructions on how to escape from the city and await rescue. Innocent and vulnerable, the frightened young teen makes her way to the designated forest shelter, but to her dismay, help doesn't come. As the long days turn into weeks, then months, then years, Adira must rely upon the few provisions left in the shelter and her own wits to survive. Peace comes only from her memories of the family she loves and her optimism that one day they'll be reunited. The Adira who is introduced in the film's opening scenes is unrecognizable as the story makes its way to 1944. Then, unaware that her long wait is nearly over, the more mature teen Adira comes upon another renegade wanderer, a British soldier (Seth Andrew Macchi), who becomes her ally. It's only a matter of time before the two must once again face the diabolic presence of the Nazi regime.
Is It Any Good?
Well-intentioned and heartfelt, this attempt to capture the overwhelming disruption of young Jewish lives during World War II falls short as cinematic art. Even a seasoned filmmaker would find it difficult to keep an audience engaged as one young character holds center frame for a great portion of the story. Given a very low budget, an inexperienced (but game) actress, as well as the challenge of sustaining "years" in an isolated woods and keeping it interesting, this movie's two novice directors too often call upon conventional situations and obvious emotions. Furthermore, some of the story elements simply don't feel plausible (for example, two Nazis are seen patrolling a large expanse of forest for what they say has been three weeks, during which "we've only killed two Jews"). Still, kudos to the filmmakers for attempting to shine a light on tragic events that shouldn't be forgotten. For mature teens only.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the advantages of telling the story of many through the eyes of one. How does Adira's singular story enrich an audience's emotional understanding of what happened to an entire generation of European-Jewish children?
Making most of a movie in the forest with only one character on camera presented a distinct challenge for the filmmakers. Which film techniques did they use to meet that challenge? Do you think they were successful?
Both documentary and fictional movies offer filmgoers an exceptional opportunity to discover and experience real historical moments. How much truth should audiences expect from these films? Why is it important to question or broaden the information taken in with material from other sources (for example, reading, schoolwork, and research)?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 6, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : May 5, 2016
- Cast : Andrea Fantauzzi , Seth Andrew Macchi , Jeffrey Staab
- Directors : Irene Delmonte , Bradley J. Lincoln
- Studio : Sunset Undiscovered
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 80 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate