from the first scene of the film one can already tell that there be fine cinematography . we see a girl walk the street of a suburban part of london and immediately one know that this be a film different to many others it slow and it silent and and still it intrigue and excite . accompany by an equally great musical score by george delerue and jack claytons direction be outstanding . he present eight child whose sick mother pass away one morning . upon their close relationship on the one and their fear of be torn apart from each other at the other side and the child decide to keep on living ` normally and a if their mother be still alive . they manage to keep up a cover story for teacher and neighbor while their relationship get even closer . a expectable with child these age ( range from and i would guess and age 3 to 12 ) and they create their ritual ( the german translation of the title be ` every evening at 9 oclock ) and manage to find a way to keep in touch with their world ` before when the beloved mother be still live . they achieve that aim by mix up religious belief with their childrenlike and yet never naïve ` rationality . but of course and their secret can not be keep forever or can it . dirk bogarde be great in his role because he convincingly show the two side of his character represent love at one part and but altogether selfish . but credit must go to the incredible cast of child whose performance draw the viewer into the story and force him to stay there . it be one of those rare film be the audience develop real sympathy for the figure . the end and though probably not all too surprising and be the highlight of the picture and contain a great deal of melancholy . one wonder how the story would continue but on the other hand and everything that need to be say be say . a other comment already state and not a film for child and but one of the best film about child ever make while it goal be to achieve an insight into the world of a child mind and and it succeed brilliantly .