Steineded How sad is this?

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

tomosp1965 I, like a previous reviewer, watched this film as a child and was struck by the message within the film. The two children in the central roles are fabulous, giving excellent performances, which is topped off with an equally great performance from Jose Ferrer. Its an uplifting film in parts and contains many funny incidents, which are created by the films two main protagonists. I would recommend this film to anyone with young children, as I loved this film in 1978 and even today I still have a fondness for it.Great family fun, just be sure to have hankies at the ready at the end.

veeliscious E-Lollipop was the first film I ever saw, aged 8, that made me cry over a human's death - before that it was only an animal's death that I ever cried at or cared about and has haunted me ever since. The film reached inside a part of me and touched my emotions so deeply to make me cry at injustice and what one human will do for another, despite obstacles and stigma - the devoted and loyal bond between the two boys clearly had a profound impact on me at such a young age as ever since then,I've constantly thought - what was that film? why is it never talked about like other classics? why has no one I ask ever heard of it? Why can't I buy it? I gave up. So at last, having googled it just now, I see that my memories of it are correct - and I see at last that it does indeed have a following (still don't know how to buy a copy!)and yes, I think all children, and adults of course, should have an opportunity to see it - I didn't know or remember that it was about Apartheid - or that it was based in South Africa, but I knew that it was about standing up for what is right, justice, love and loyalty,respect and consideration for all and to look for the beauty within EVERY person - values which I have carried ever since. Quite a remarkable impact for a film to have on a child so young, wouldn't you say?

kaeverett This movie was exceptional. Like some of the other posts I too have never forgotten this movie. Very, very powerful - 30 years later I can still recall vivid images and details of this movie. I struggled to find the title of this movie as the only thing I could remember about the title was the word "free". I remember seeing the movie in the theater as a child; I figured the movie was released in the 70's; it seems so amazing to have such a memory of this film at the age of 7. What I remember most was the despair and alienation that the African boy was going through after arriving in New York to reconnect with his friend. His struggle seemed to mirror the feelings that I had as a adopted child that I could not find the words to express. I now have a family of my own and I would really love to have a copy of this movie.

AdrianOfSheffield Like an earlier poster, I was 13 years old and caught up in all the Star Wars hype. It was raining, and my mum dragged me into the cinema to see this. I did not want to see it. But the ending has remained with me ever since. (Yes, I did cry and so did my mum). I have no idea how it would seem now, but I would love to see it again.Update 2009. I finally got hold of a copy on DVD and watched it with my daughter who is the same age now that I was when I last watched it.The film seems a bit dated now, but the story still held my daughter's attention. That final scene still hits you like an emotional sledgehammer though, and I can report tears.