the always watchable dirk bogarde be in top form a a nasty piece of fatherhood here . but the child match him for act ability and i must say . even the young girl and who be phoebe nicholls of brideshead revisit ( tv ) fame some year later . everyone in this quietly creepy film do a good job with their character . this be just the sort of intelligent story the british do so well . it capture it period skillfully and and i find myself want to enter the story to help the character out . one really feel for the child plight . yet and they be capable creature . ( they put one in mind of english book such a e. nesbit the wouldbegoods and not that the story be nearly as pleasant and but because the child be so good at look after themselves independently . ) i have always find these atmospheric english film far superior to slam bang american entertainment . not to everyone taste and perhaps and but that make it more fun and too . whistle down the wind come to mind a a similarly enjoyable essay on quirky childhood experience .