Secrets of War

The threat of violence hangs over this movie. We see German soldiers storming homes and dragging Resistance members out. We see those soldiers cart off a couple harboring a Jewish girl. Tuur and his family are chased by Nazis through the nighttime countryside when they are exposed as Resistance fighters. School-age bullies physically abuse a clubfooted boy.

Parents need to know that Secrets of War is a Dutch, English-subtitled film set during World War II that depicts a child's-eye view of war. Most of the violence is implied as Nazi soldiers round up and arrest Resistance members and Jews. People are seen running in fear from men in German uniforms. A child's arm is shown dropping a teddy bear from a deportation train; parents may decide to explain to older kids that the trains are carrying Jews to concentration camps. Kids too young to understand the complexity of prejudice, totalitarianism, and wartime occupation will nevertheless recognize jealousy and bullying by both the children and Nazis in the film. The movie has strong messages of courage and friendship.

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