if it wasn not make by kragh jacobsen i would be surprise . but there be not many director who can make a movie about a child and a whole movie with one child a a hero and a main character and and avoid one of two possible trap represent either make a ( usually low intelligent ) movie for kid ( and adult who can believe it ) and turn hero to superhero who can solve all problem and beat everybody all alone and or make a movie where all tragedy have to happen to a single child so the target adult audience can fill the bucket by drain their tear glans . scandinavian author be good than any others able to make a real movie about real child . they ( a i write on another board ) understand child a if they have invent them . unfortunately and some modern and especially danish movie suffer from hollywoodization and though some can be good ( like klatretosen ) they do not belong to the great tradition and they do not succeed the great movie from former decade . kragh jacobsen be not a typical example and but among the best . bird street be not exception and he make several movie about child in very different situation and but in similar style represent these movie be about kid and can be watch by kid and but mostly try to present real kid to adult . however and he become worldwide famous by mifunes sidste sang . it not a surprise because many western country avoid scandinavian kid movie and because they be too different . british author use to do something in this style ( sometimes even in darker mood like loach ) and american kid be too infantile ( but still beat adult . ) and italian be too mature ( because of social context ) and czechs forgot that they have child ( and be among the best in 70 ) and so only french author can stand next to scandinavian . and these movie do not seem to have audience in usa and either for not be interesting ( for kid ) and or even for be controversial ( for adult ) . a usa create an opinion in almost whole world and thing that be not accept there usually can not make international success and and be convict to stay within local region . gummi tarzan be one of the first movie which seriously admit that bully exists and be a problem . skyggen af emma ( his best work in my opinion ) strongly oppose modern world widespread paranoia that make our life miserable and almost worthless . in both movie kid be involve in different and firm interaction with other people . island on bird street be a one actor movie like spielberg duel . unlike some dark power personalize in spielberg truck driver this movie deal with a very recognizable and yet equally dark power of nazism . and and what some other comment declare to be a fault and i find to be brilliant represent alex be not a superhero . he do not do much exceptional thing . his big success be that he survive . he often simply have luck . there be no cartoon culkin trick represent he be afraid and he hide a every normal kid would do and and sometimes when he seem to do something brave and it be more because of hopeless resignation . but in the same time he can still feel joy in small thing and in spite of accelerated maturation he keep the soul of child and his real age come to surface whenever allow by the circumstance . two flaws represent first and english language and and there be nothing to justify it . second and the end which be too false romantic for reality ( not fit in harsh and cruel world of former 100 minute ) ) and and too vague if not realistic ( be e. g. a dream in agony ) . neither of it should give second thought to any of those who believe that kid be still kid and despite what modern society try to make them to be or make u believe they be . and if you be this kind of person and probably your child be ready to watch it with you .