Edges of the Lord (2001)

Director:

Yurek Bogayevicz

Writer (WGA):

Yurek Bogayevicz (written by)

Release Date:

12 October 2001 (Poland)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | War

Plot:

A 12-year-old Jewish boy hides with a family of Catholic peasant farmers to escape the Nazis.

Plot Keywords:

Host | Jewish | Catholic | Jew | Pig

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Haley Joel Osment	...	Romek
Willem Dafoe	...	Priest
Liam Hess	...	Tolo
Richard Banel	...	Vladek
Olaf Lubaszenko	...	Gniecio
Malgorzata Foremniak	...	Manka
Andrzej Grabowski	...	Kluba
Chiril Vahonin	...	Robal
Olga Frycz	...	Maria
Dorota Piasecka	...	Ela Kluba
Wojciech Smolarz	...	Pyra
Marek Weglarski	...	Max
Edyta Jurecka	...	Sara
Ryszard Ronczewski	...	Batylin
Krystyna Feldman	...	Wanda

Also Known As:

Boze skrawki (Poland)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and sexual content.

Runtime:

France:95 min (Cannes Film Festival)

Country:

USA | Poland

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #38168) | New Zealand:R16 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | USA:R | Australia:MA | Singapore:PG | Australia:M (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Kraków, Poland

Company:

Braun Entertainment Group

Trivia:

This movie wasn't released in USA due to commercial difficulties right away. There were plans to release it theatrically, but to no avail. It was released straight to DVD.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Maria gets raped, she goes into the river to wash herself. She puts her head in the water and wipes her face. In the next shot she is lying on her side washing herself, her hair is dry in front.

Quotes:

Romek: Are we blessed? Or are we just the edges?
Priest: We are all scraps, Romek, and we are all blessed the same.
Romek: But not all the people right?

Soundtrack:

Before Your Eyes

A Must See Film - for all our futures sake...

I've been an avid Haley Joel Osment fan since his role as Forest Gump's son in the movie of the same name. I have followed this talented young man and seen him grow into one of the great Actors today (not child actors, mind you - he is a full blown actor, IMHO). I lay all this praise out there as a preface to comments since it is important to understand my next statement:

Why on Earth is movie not being distributed in the United States? Why not in World Wide distribution? Here you have an extremely talented cast, in a well thought out and written movie, and so few get to see it. There are some films that are "must see" for the sake of mankind and this is one of them. Is it as significant as Shindler's List? Probably not for the general audience. However, it is very significant for young audiences in their teenage years. I watched this film for the first time with my two sons (14 & 16) and was amazed to hear their perspective on a very difficult subject and time historically. While Shindler's List might help older audiences remember that there was a time that should not be repeated, Edges of the Lord will help teens (and some younger viewers) understand that we cannot allow a repeat of this time in history. My two (Catholic) boys have learned to live as a community from parents and friends that practice what they preach and this film opened their eyes to specifics that are not taught in school. It is very important for those living in relative comfort to see what peers overseas lived like in horrifying circumstances. To have to have grown up so fast. The story captures what should not be forgotten and reminds those of us that know to educate those that don't. Impressive....

The film's star, Haley Joel Osment, is accurate with his acting - voice and accent, and is believable. Haley is amazing in that he can pull you into the world he's in and keep you there. What a gift he has and aren't we lucky to see it grow! Mr. Defoe is excellent. The children in the village are excellent. The set / location and costumes are perfect.

I had to buy this film from Brazil. Miramax, if you are listening, get this film to as many screens as you can! Be responsible, please! At least, release it on DVD. No one should ever forget, and your film will assist in that goal.