Friend or Foe (1982) User Reviews

Marvellous evocation of the reality of the evacuation of children in WW2

[robert-temple-1 · 8/10 · 21 January 2015]

This excellent film by director John Krish provides a realistic and authentic portrayal of what it was like for the children evacuated from London to the British countryside to avoid the bombing in London during World War II. The countryside filming was done in Buckinghamshire, although the location intended for the story appears to have been the English-speaking part of South Wales, and the schoolmaster has a very profound Welsh accent. One field of cows is, however, largely the same as another, as they might say, or should I say as they might moo. A charming and entertaining tale is the basis for this film, which does not appear to have employed professional actors. But everyone does an excellent job, and they are all entirely convincing. The heroes of the film are two young boys played by the excellent child actors John Holmes and Mark Luxford, who are both absolutely charming and perfect for their parts. They arrive in a country village by train and are taken in by a dairy farmer. They soon become familiar with country life and between helping on the farm and attending the one-room village school, they romp around the fields and woods having a great time. Then one night there is a bombing raid near the village itself and the boys see a German bomber come down. They try to tell the locals, but they are disbelieved. A search finds no evidence of a downed plane, and the boys are criticised for wasting police and Army time. However, the plane had come down in the lake and sunk out of sight. The boys encounter two German airmen hiding in the woods who are the only ones to have survived the crash. One of them saves one of the boys from drowning in the lake. The soldiers both speak English and let the boys go but ask then not to tell. The boys have a serious crisis of conscience, because one of them has lost his father, who was in the Navy and died because his ship was sunk by a German submarine. However, the boys decide to protect the Germans despite their being the enemy, but when one of the Germans injures himself he hands himself over to the boys and lets them 'capture' him, as he needs medical attention. The boys then become local heroes and are on the front page of the local paper. However, there is one more German airman still in the woods, and the dilemma remains. The authenticity of this film is so remarkable that it really ought to be shown to all young people in British schools as an entertaining history lesson. It teaches much more than any textbook could about the subject. And it contains in addition the words of wisdom of one of the boys, who puts the matter bluntly: 'I think war is stupid.'

Easily one of the best CFF films

[trevorwomble · 7/10 · 8 December 2019]

Many CFF films were puerile or just plain cheap looking. Here we have a really decent and serious effort with good acting and good production values. The look and feel of the film is about right, it doesn't get boring and from what my father told me (he too was an evacuee) not far off what life was like for a city child living in the middle of the countryside during WW2.

The plot about two London boys living on a farm who believe they have seen a German bomber plane crash nearby but nobody believes them only to find the pilots still alive may seem a bit far fetched but actually things like this really did happen. The pilots are well portrayed too, not demonised like other films have done.

This is an intelligent, realistic, entertaining and well directed little film that uses its locations and its small budget well. It was admittedly made towards the end of the existence of the CFF but its is certainly one of the better CFF efforts and definitely worth a watch with appeal to adults and children alike.

Strong Michael Morpurgo adaptation

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 5 January 2017]

FRIEND OR FOE is a Children's Film Foundation adaptation of a Michael Morpurgo novel and the good news is that it's a darn sight better than Spielberg's flashy and slick WAR HORSE. The thing with FRIEND OR FOE is that it has real heart and character to it; the characters aren't always easy to like, but that's what makes them sympathetic.

The story is a good one and would be good even if the Germans didn't figure in the tale. The main characters are a couple of kids evacuated from London during WW2 and sent to a rural farming community. There they find a home with the excellent John Bardon playing a farmer who is all heart. These kids are naturally sympathetic and the scenes in which they suffer bullying from their peer group and alienation are quite heart-breaking.

The acting is generally realistic and the kids give better performances that I've seen in other CFF films. The plot about the crashed German bomber raises some interesting moral questions that are answered as the story progresses and overall the depiction of the era is very strong. A shame that comparable fare for children is no longer being made in these days of short attention spans.

Wonderful!

[petshel-910-45303 · 10/10 · 26 May 2017]

A delightful little film that realistically portrays life as it really was for us London evacuees. I was 4 years old when war was declared and between then and February 1945, evacuated 5 times. On the 3rd evacuation, we travelled by bus from Kilburn to the main line station, then by train to Harringworth. There, just like the boys in the film, we were marched crocodile style along the village high street and my brother and I were the last evacuees to be billeted (with Mr and Mrs Lock). The film is absolutely true to the events that we Londoner's experienced .. country life, farms, a single-room village school and the Home Guard. A super film.

Thankyou Michael Morpurgo.

[spidargirl · 10/10 · 21 August 2021]

The previous reviews have said it all Great story.

Great locations, Great actors.

I now look forward to reading the book.

A story to make us adults and the young think about the other side, whoever or whatever it is in these testing times.

A Lovely Film

[andyrobert · 10/10 · 21 August 2021]

I don't usually watch films that were distributed by the Children's Film Foundation unless they have special interest for me, or if it was a film that brings back childhood memories of when I used to go to the Saturday Morning Minors Picture Show.

However, this film really surpassed itself. Although it was distributed by the Children's Film Foundation, it would have appealed to grown-ups as well.

At first, I thought it may have been based on the author Michael Morpurgo's own childhood memories of being evacuated himself, but as he was not born until 1943, he was probably inspired by stories that he had heard from older children who had, themselves, been evacuated during the London Blitz.

The story was quite well acted, had the good costume design, good production values and was spot on with the World War 2 atmosphere. Also, I enjoyed listening to Robert Farnon's lulling musical score. He has always been one of my favourite composers.

I watched the film on Talking Pictures this morning and made a recording of it. I might even watch it again.