Children's International Film Festival - Laura’s Star
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Date Reviewed: 28/05/2022
Laura’s Star is a delight in every way! Based on the children's book Lauras Stern by Klaus Baumgart, produced and directed by Thilo Rothkirch. It is a film about acceptance of change, friendships and loyalty.
Laura is a seven-year-old country girl who just moved with her family to a big, new city. On her first night in her new home, she sees a shooting star falling to Earth. Laura searches and finds the star in a park and discovers that it is a living being. The star has lost one of its points during its crash landing. Laura takes the star back home to fix it with a band-aid.
Along with her younger brother Tommy, she discovers the star has magical powers and can do amazing things, such as making people fly and bringing toys to life. However, over time, she notices that the longer the star stays on Earth, the weaker it becomes; its colour gradually fades, and its powers fail. The siblings and their next-door neighbour Max eventually find a way to send the little star back into outer space.
This film oozes charm, which is largely due to clever casting by Rothkirch. Céline Vogt is adorable as Laura, a little girl who struggles with an unfamiliar environment and finds friendships in unexpected ways. Her parents Heinrich Schafmeister and Brit Gülland are perfect in the portrayal of their dilemma of needing to be closer to the city and pleasing their young daughter. Maximilian Artajo is ideal as Max, the next-door neighbour, initially shunned by Laura but who proves to be her saviour.
With no dialogue or sounds whatsoever, the ‘star’ has its own distinct personality and feelings. The scene in which it takes Laura for a ride over the rooftops is beautiful. The other essential character is Laura’s cat who, along with mechanical counterpart, steals every scene in which they are featured.
Notable in Laura’s Star is the musical score by Hans Zimmer, Henning Lohner and Nick Glennie-Smith; uplifting and perfectly matching every mood.
Watch out for the section in space near the end of the film. It is worth the wait!
Laura’s Star is a well-crafted film with an eye to detail and perfect for any child from five years old and upwards, although I am more than that, I loved it!
Reviewed by Barry Hill