A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Glad to see so many positive reviews of this one. It's a fascinating, powerful film about two young people—a potty-mouthed artful dodger and a soft-faced older girl he calls "frangine" ("sis")—trying to live by their wits at a Swiss ski resort. Léa Seydoux's sulky beauty makes her perfect for the role of Louise; Kacey Mottet Klein, then barely into his teens, gives an amazing performance as Simon. Didn't recognize Gillian Anderson as the Englishwoman who takes a motherly interest. The slangy (not to say skanky) dialogue may be useful to students of advanced conversational French. Ursula Meier's first feature, "Home," is a total headtrip, longer on concept than plot and reminiscent of 50s absurdist satires of modern life by Ionesco and Jacques Tati; this one has real visceral impact. Both "Sister" and "Home" are available on streaming Netflix.

This movie is surely more than worth to be seen: I've been so impressed that I kept thinking for days about the characters and their fate and wishing them my best.So, as you have probably understood the film is touching, let's say moving. Can't say if it is more the rare beauty of Louise or the remarkable talent of Simon for getting by that will affect you the most but be sure that you'll feel involved in the story as if you'd be part of it.Needless to say that the acting is perfect, the scenes are catching and the dialogue most natural. I wonder whether is it a true story or not. I hope it is, otherwise I'd have to think that there is some kind of sadism in Ursula Meier's imagination.

"L'enfant d'en haut" the title in French, is "Sister" in English. I had to strain a little with my mother tongue to work out the title - My literal translation gave "The child from above" But after watching the movie I concluded that it perhaps was The child from the mountain top. This seemed more appropriate for me. As for "Sister" This also can be thought as fairly appropriate.I was rather annoyed at the first half, depicting a child stealing as the only way to get by and supporting a derelict sister who did not seem to do anything to help herself. I felt there was such waste of energy and little constructive to offer in a world already saturated by petty crimes.But as the story continued it became a lot more interesting and meaningful and kept me totally engrossed to see the outcome.Before coming to IMDb I checked "Allo Cine" a similar site in French. There were the two last worst and best review. The worst one gave only 1/2 a mark stating that the "bourgeois" did it again as usual transferring their own hangup to the "poor" society to which they have not insight or idea about its living condition. ( or something to this effect). I believe most of us in some ways are isolated in our own social surrounding and it takes much effort to look or want to look at others introspectively. There are always some reasons for us to go one way or the other regardless of who we are or where we are. So I dismiss this view that states such disdain on the part of "the better of people" Some are very comfortable thanks to their hard work and also sometime a little luck. I don't think this film is set out to ease the rich people's burden to be different than their not so wealthy counterpart. I see a very good attempt to zoom down unto a very sad situation and portrait its protagonist in a very raw manner to an excellent result. I also admire the finish, simple but emphatic to the depth of its sorry situation.

I saw this film in the Berlinale film festival 2012, where it was part of the Competition section. It tells about an intriguing situation with a brother and a sister living together. Both have very uncommon ways to pass the time, each having their own survival strategy. We are left in the dark for a long time how all that came about.I especially admire the role of 12-year old Simon, who shows versatility, skills and experience in his daily "job" of stealing ski's and related material from well-to-do tourists in the ski resort, in order to re-sell it later on to less wealthy people in the village. He acts as a real professional, and knows everything there is to know about equipment brands and related market prices.The "sister" role, on the other hand, gets a bit on my nerves. She is utterly useless in earning a living, nor is she capable of running an orderly household. She's easily distracted when a man (any man) is around, and often leaving in the company of a lover, each time a different one. I'm not completely sure how to characterize her way of living together with Simon as either symbiotic or parasitic.Halfway the movie it turns out that the relationship between Simon and his "sister" is completely different from what he tells everyone (and us) asking about their parents. What we (and everyone) are led to believe all the time, is the explanation that is easiest accepted by everyone asking for details. Their behavior does not change after the revelation about their true relationship. But of course it changes our view on the situation drastically from that moment on.The film ends when the skiing season is nearly over, and all tourists are about to leave. Unclear remains what their income will be as of this day. We see them in a ski lift: Simon is going up and she is going down. Does this mean anything? A pointer? Seems like a deliberate open ending, and I must admit that I cannot think of a better way to wrap up this story.All in all, Simon is the real main character, and he certainly is a person to get involved in. We follow him closely on his "job", feel with the risky situations he finds himself in, just as we are happy with each of his narrow escapes. Though the "sister" keeps annoying me all the time, she is the second main character who is also very well portrayed. Though we see many other characters appear, all of them are mere side roles. Nevertheless, they are also performing very well in their assigned roles.