Swing Kids

This movie is relatively unknown, but excellent nonetheless. Keep an eye out for a young Noah Wyle ("Dr. Carter" on ER) as a Hitler Youth group leader. The music is splendid.


Excellent film of swing and moral struggle   December 24, 2003
Nate Jacobson (Denver, CO USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Anyone who has stepped on to the dance floor with a live swing band playing knows just how well Swing Kids captures the electricity of a night of swing. Anyone who has strapped on their best duds an hour earlier knows the romance and anticipation captured perfectly as Peter Muller (Robert Sean Leonard) dresses for his last night of swing. This movie was in no small measure part of the impetus for the swing revival in the mid 90's, and I personally get "in the mood" for a night of cuttin' rug with Janis Siegel's incredible rendition of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" from the film.

But what makes this film truly superlative is its honest dealings with ordinary Germans' motivations for complacency towards or participation in Nazism. In Nazi Germany it was in everybody's best interest (save the Jews) to play along. From Peter's mother who just wants her children to live happily and avoid the terrible fate of their father to Thomas Berger (Christian Bale) who finds acceptance and encouragement for the first time, they do so for the reasons that would tempt each of us sorely. The horrible truth of the Holocaust is that, like the Germans, very few of us possess the selflessness and moral courage it would have required to oppose the evil tide of Nazism. Swing Kids is almost alone in its portrayal of this chilling truth among Holocaust and World War II films. Robert Sean Leonard's portrayal of this moral struggle for understanding and courage is very moving. (Of course, there's noone better at playing angst-ridden. c.f. Dead Poet's Society.)

As he dances his last dance, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, the world spinning around him, he finds a rare kind of release that is perhaps found only on the dance floor. And yes, his brother's cries, "Swing Heil! Swing Heil!", in the final scene give me a lump in the throat every time. For all these reasons and more, Swing Kids is an excellent film. Shame that there are no extras on the DVD.


"Swing Kids" is A fight for freedom   June 25, 1999
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

"Swing Kids" was truly a fabulous movie. Its a movie about the Nazi's in the time of Hitlers reign. The characters in this movie are astounding, and the actors who portray them put on a brilliant performance. Robert Sean Leonard as Peter, a young man who has made close friends with a group of boys who all have one thing in common that brought them together...swing music, and swing dancing. To which the german nazi's did not approve of. Peter ends up having to become an H.J. Which are basically nazi's in training...It is a fight to maintain balance in a society with no balance. As the video says on the cover, "They fought for the freedom that bound them together" Truly a great movie...I rave to much, and I really hope they re-release it cause I would LOVE to purchase this video! But I won't if it costs to much...that I must say! BUT RENT IT if you cannot purchase it! Another fabulous actor in it is Christian Bale who has done a very fine job in his career and has appeared in such movies as "Newsies" "A Midsummer Nights Dream" and coming Soon "All The Little Animals" and many more. He portrays Peters Best friend Thomas in this movie, and a lot of things between Peter and Thomas change, however, their friendship remains just in a different way as the movie goes. Watch it...you'll love it.


PLEASE RE_RELEASE   November 20, 1999
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

When i first saw this movie three years ago, when i was in eighth grade, i fell in love with it. I cried and i laughed and it was all around emotionally satisfying. I have looked everywhere for this video, i beg you, please, re-release it, i wish i had it so i could watch it every day!