A Dog of Flanders

Year: 1999
Cast: Jack Warden, Jon Voight, Jeremy James Kissner, Jesse James, Cheryl Ladd, Bruce McGill, Steven Hartley, Dirk Lavrysen, Andrew Bicknell, Antje De Boeck
Directed By: Kevin Brodie

Fifth screen version of Marie Louise de la Ramee's 1872 children's story is put to sleep by slow pacing and murky settings. Orphan Nello (Kissner) and his grandfather Jehan (Warden) find an abused dog and nurse it back to health. The boy and his dog team up to support the household as Jehan's health begins to fade. Nello is noticed sketching in the town square by artist Michel (Voight), who then befriends and encourages the boy. As his artistic gifts flower, he attempts to win his childhood sweetheart Aloise (Monet) over the protests of her father. The rather depressing climax of the original story is replaced by a brighter ending in an attempt to make the movie more child-friendly, but the uneven acting and accents won't even fool the kiddies.

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