The children are so believable you forget that you're watching a movie. You're right there with them in their changing world, hearing their heartbeats, imagining the nightmares looming over them.

This fairly mediocre period piece is what we might call a double-whammy, given that it practically begs for critics to grade it on a curve.

A touching drama about friendship, trust, and forgiveness in the lives of two adolescents during World War II.

A strong young cast and a clean presentation should make "Secrets of War" intriguing for junior cinephiles who may not yet have the same film vocabulary as their parents.