It touches you, sure, but rather than with Andrei's performance i was disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, not that movie isn’t beautiful or touching, but it was just a cliché. Sverak took the already verified formula (quite boy, grumpy but nice old man, tragedy, love building, changing personality, learning one from another, escape, and expected ending) and put it into movie. Not bad, but far from good.
I saw this on KICFF (Kristiansand International Children Film Festival) many years ago, and it has stuck with me since. A really good memory from the cinema.
I saw this at the Dream Theater in Monterey, CA on its theatrical run in '97. An incredible film, unforgettable.