CinemaSerf

This is a lovely story that those of us (of a certain age) will look back on with a simple fondness. A family go on holiday to the English Lake District where they set up a camp on an island. Soon they are under attack from the "hostiles" - two girls from nearby. After a parley, they agree to join forces with the "Swallow" and the "Amazon" (their boats) signing articles to wage war on the girls' grumpy uncle "Jim". Virginia McKenna and Ronald Fraser play the grown ups fine; but this is essentially as gentle an adaptation as the water on the lake - with some fine performances from the six children who create just enough of a sense of derring-do to keep this engaging little version of the Arthur Ransome story bobbing along nicely.