After reading the book and being quite riveted to it, I was quite looking forward to the new film version. I was unfortunately disappointed. I felt I was watching a very rushed version, and sadly many of the important issues had been changed, I believe, for commercial and "21st century" reasons. Gavin Hood, it would seem, tried to get through the filming as quick as possible. I do believe a Polish director should have stood at the helm of this project, although I understand that a director on site had to be found asap once the initial Polish director fell ill. What does stand out are the photography and the music, as well as the young actress playing Nell. Unfortunately, Fidusiewicz as Stas doesn't pull it off. All well and good for children, although it strays from the book and will probably confuse them with the "facts". Doesn't match up to the original film.
Review of W pustyni i w puszczy
