Sherazade Review of Children on Their Birthdays

Children on Their Birthdays (2002)

Based on a short story written by Truman Capote

[9/10 · 30 April 2006]

I enjoyed this film, it was very well written, beautifully cast and stunningly set. I don't understand why people rated it badly. It's the story of a southern town forced to confront its own racists and unfair ways when a lovely and angelic young mixed-race girl (played by Tania Raymonde) moves into town with her mute mother and steals their hearts. The main characters are two young boys (played by Joe Pichler and Jesse Plemons) who both fall in love with the young spitfire. This is a classic tale of coming-of-age as well as unrequited love in more ways than one. The only fault I found within the film was the LIPSYNCHING scene in which Raymonde pretends to sing the beautiful 'I have to dream' song sung by Celine Dion and Jennifer Newman Sharpe. They should have taught the girl to sing that number in her own voice.