Whistle Down the Wind

Director: Bryan Forbes
Cast: Hayley MillsBernard Lee
Alan Bates, Norman BirdElsie Wagstaff
Diane HolgateAlan Barnes
Hamilton Dyce, Diane Clare, Patricia Heneghan, Roy Holder, John Arnatt, Ronald Hines, Gerald Sim
Country: UK
Language: English
Colour: Black and White
Awards: Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards
Plot summary: "Little Kathy discovers a man wanted for murder hiding in her family's barn. [...] Kathy and her siblings are convinced that he is Jesus and try to hide him from grown-ups."

© IMBD

Set in a remote village in the sixty's northern England, this film, which deals with the spirituality of the local children as opposed to the cynical jaded world of the adults, seems to be set even further back in time, not only because of the black and white photography, but also for the dramatic soundtrack reminiscent of the Hollywood cinema’s exordia. But unlike this latter, the protagonists this time are humble people.

Although misguided by the bigotry of their indoctrination and by their fervid imagination, the children’s belief in Jesus Christ is heartfelt and sincere: Kathy feels herself guilty after having stated that Jesus was dead, and she thinks that he is back to punish her. Their pure devotion is diametrically juxtaposed to the sour and world-weary attitude of the adults, from the greedy farmhand, whose only passion is his pigeons’ traps, to the mordant aunt, embittered by the fact she is forced to help bring up her brother’s children, after his wife’s death. The film doesn’t fail to cleverly swipe the religious establishment showing an evil-looking vicar, who is unable to answer the most fundamental religious question: “Why does Jesus let people die?”

The innocence of the children reminds somehow the original Lord of the Flies, another sixty’s classic, for its depiction of youngsters acting independently from adults when dealing with a serious situation, although this time the supernatural situation is created in their own heads. And you *can’t help* but be enchanted by the young characters talking like little men/women, often to great comic effects. The smallest brother, after being disappointed by *Jesus*, declares in a neat northern English accent: “It isn't Jesus. It's just a fella!”

There is a message of love which spreads like a *whistle down the wind* behind a fairly straightforward story. You can take that to heart, and analyse it at length; alternatively, you can just enjoy a lovely tale of life seen through children’s eyes.

Joint review © Silvia & Steve