My Little Sister

The quiet wonder of My Little Sister, Switzerland's Oscar entry, is its cumulative effect... Every moment strengthens the essence of the drama -- the bond of love between two people who came out of their mother's womb within seconds of one another.

With a distinctive angle and the rawness of the cast's first-rate performances, Chuat and Reymond elevate a premise that could have, in other hands, veered into the realm of the uninspired.

"My Little Sister," a tender domestic drama from the Swiss writers and directors Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond, faces terminal illness with a refreshing emotional candor.

Written and directed by Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond with superb control and insight, "My Little Sister" never goes precisely where the audience expects...

A sterling cast makes up for screenplay weaknesses.

This is bright, unaffected naturalism with a fluidly roving camera, but also a generous regard for its ensemble, as befits a film affectionately embedded in the Berlin theater scene.

This story is at its most effective and affecting when it concentrates on [the central] bond ... but it's not really a story about that.

In Hoss's hands, Lisa is both warm in her devotion to Sven and cold in the impulses that drive her.

A dramatically wrenching but, for the most part, sensitively told story [that] avoids mawkishness while delivering a strong emotional impact.

An emotionally powerful movie that touches on a number of interesting themes. Strong performances and excellent camerawork are highlights.