Belle and Sebastian

In this film set during WWII in the scenic, snowy Alps near the Swiss border of occupied France, a resourceful young boy named Sebastian tames a giant mountain sheepdog that he names Belle. The dog becomes the boy’s best friend and protector. Their loyalty—to each other and their fellow villagers—is put to the test when Nazis arrive in their village, rooting out resistance fighters who helped Jewish refugees cross the border. Based on a classic French novel and a cult TV show from the 1960s, this wonderful update of a timeless story won the Youth Jury Award at the 2014 Seattle International Film Festival. (104 mins., DCP)