Ponderous pacing makes this true-life tale a lot less enthralling than it might have been.

Their little world in the wooden hut they find eventually becomes a microcosm of the real one, where they can leave behind some of the sillier prejudices of war.

Although nicely produced, this second world war yarn is bland and predictable.

Plods from one sequence to the next, unable to escape an inherent feeling of transparency, of wearing its simple themes on its humdrum sleeve.