Overview
Two brothers navigate the perils of war in a desperate quest for family and safety.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- harrowing
- serious
- tender
- historical film night
- serious drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an effective and emotionally affecting child-centered Holocaust drama, though aggregate scores indicate a mixed overall critical response.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joseph and Maurice experience occupied France, separation, and danger as young Jewish brothers navigating adult threats.
The brothers rely on cleverness, courage, and ingenuity to evade danger and seek their family.
The brothers' effort to reunite their family unfolds amid Nazi control of France.
The film was shot in southern France and presents occupied France through civilian journeys and wartime threat.
Films like A Bag of Marbles, and why
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
shared historical war drama, child-centered perspective, occupied Europe setting, and themes of survival and family loyalty
Europa Europa
shared wartime coming-of-age drama, Jewish persecution, moral courage, and emotionally intimate treatment of historical trauma
Life Is Beautiful
shared world war ii setting, family separation, survival under occupation, and bittersweet humanism
Empire of the Sun
shared child protagonists, wartime displacement, family bonds, and journey-driven historical drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Christian Duguay
- Release Date
- 2017-01-18
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (912)
Cast
- Dorian Le Clech
- Batyste Fleurial
- Patrick Bruel
- Elsa Zylberstein
- Bernard Campan
- Christian Clavier
- Kev Adams
- César Domboy
- Ilian Bergala
- Émile Berling
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Chai Flicks
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Bag of Marbles about?
- Two Jewish brothers draw on wit and courage to survive occupied France and find their scattered family during World War II.
- What is A Bag of Marbles like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Bag of Marbles as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is A Bag of Marbles violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in A Bag of Marbles as mild.
- What did critics think of A Bag of Marbles?
- Critics broadly found the film an effective and emotionally affecting child-centered Holocaust drama, though aggregate scores indicate a mixed overall critical response.
- Which films are like A Bag of Marbles?
- Films with a similar feel include The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Europa Europa, Life Is Beautiful, and Empire of the Sun.
- How long is A Bag of Marbles?
- A Bag of Marbles runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Bag of Marbles?
- In United States, A Bag of Marbles streams on Chai Flicks.
