It's been awhile since I re-watched this film, but when they did show it a year or so ago, I saw it again and again! Embedded in this film is the essence of the magic of childhood, with all its wide-eyed wonder, sincerity of feeling, its optimism and its madness! It's something that, as we grow older, we tend to experience by lesser and lesser degrees, partly because it seems much easier just being blase about things happening around you...
Mahée Paiement is excellent as Fanny. If it were not for her completely natural, endearing performance, this film might not have worked. Even Raymond Leygault as Fanny's uncle is really good. Fanny's friendship with Charles, her neighbour is really engaging and humorous. I gather this film has been shot in Quebec. And as such, the city lends its own unique beauty to the film. Snow and Christmas enhance the aura of the film even more. Music of course is an important part of the film. Be it the songs used around Fanny and her friends or the Bach pieces, they suit perfectly. This film made me actually want to go and buy a Bach CD! It's a great way to introduce classical music to kids. It's definitely something in the line of the Classical Kids series(made by the Canadian Children's Group Co.) - a series of audio films fusing facts about the lives of great classical musicians with a fictional story, usually narrated by a kid. I have one of the films in the series, called 'Beethoven Lives Upstairs'. It's so beautifully made and movingly narrated, it's inspirational! The series does have a film on Bach too, called 'Mr. Bach Comes to Call'.
Anyway, just want to say, that I highly recommend 'Bach and Broccoli'. Like Fanny's uncle who underwent a transformation of sorts, watching this film was a re-affirming experience. This is one of the best Children's films I've ever seen. The categorization shouldn't misguide anyone. For all the wisdom packed in this unpretentious film, it is indeed, more for grown ups than kids. I saw this film in English and as per another reviewer over here the English version is not good. Well...I loved it! Only wish I knew French better to appreciate this film even more!
