It wouldn’t be summer without a light-hearted and heart-warming British film to perk us up on those wet evenings. Luckily we have had very few wet evenings, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from watching The Railway Children Return, a belated sequel to the original film that came out back in 1970. I was too young at the time to remember the original and somehow I had managed to avoid that film completely, so I went into this film without knowing the events of the first. You do however get the sense of longevity, legacy and nostalgia within this film. It’s a film that is not just catered to the fans of the original but also introduces new fans to this lovely warm world of Oakworth in Yorkshire.
The focus of the film is on three children, Lily, Pattie and Ted Watts, who are forced to be relocated to the Yorkshire countryside with the war currently putting the big cities at risk of bombing. What starts with an emotional farewell between mother and children, ends in a journey where the children learn more about life outside the big city. Beau Gadsden, Eden Hamilton and Zac Cudby all excel in their roles as the Watts children, with their warm sibling chemistry exuding itself from the big screen. Other young members of the cast such as young boy Thomas and an on-the-run young American boy called Abe also shine amongst the cast. To see all this talent really helps to give the film its family-esque atmosphere, including the adults too.
Speaking of the adults, Jenny Agutter returns to the role of Bobbie with grace and vitality, giving some fun scenes that must feel reminiscent of the original film. Sheridan Smith, John Bradley and Tom Courtenay all look as if they’re enjoying themselves and acknowledge the fun aspects of being a kid during wartime England as well as honouring the seriousness of the situation especially during a bombing scene that occurs half-way through the film which I will not spoil. There are some underlying themes of racism, trust and camaraderie which are littered throughout the film which give it a modern edge, especially with the state of the real world in previous years. This is probably partly due to educate the younger audience of how we should treat each other and in turn shows us a more respectful world.
There are some flaws within the film, such as a lot of the adult characters don’t get as much focus as the younger ones. At first this is understandable as this is a family film, but there are storylines such as Uncle Walter’s job in London and Richard Perk’s secret spying on the Germans through the radio which don’t get enough time to be explored in the film. The story is a tad bit predictable and the plot has a lot of similarities to other films such as Swallows and Amazons, but thanks to the children it doesn’t feel like a drag and we are swept away with their adventures and antics. The sensitivity of death during wartime is also delicately handled throughout the film, especially when we don’t know the fate of Thomas’s dad who is currently fighting in the war.
★★★☆☆
3/5
The Railway Children Return is an as expected feel-good British period film that is set in the countryside of the second World War. It meets all your expectations and delivers a combination of gut-punching scenes as well as some fun and mischievous scenes. Thanks to this balance the film can reach fans young and old, there’s something in here for everyone. I had never seen the original film and yet I still enjoyed and understood it, proving that the story is basically a standalone effort but I am sure there is something in there for fans of the original too. The Railway Children Return isn’t cinema at its best, but it is the perfect family film to watch this summer.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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