Without dwelling on the psychological triggers too much, Castles film goes straight into the after-effects of tragedy, tracing the pitch and yaw trajectory of one boys attempts to reconcile himself with the enormity of the life he now faces without his parents. Initially, it seems hope is lost as Eric develops autism and becomes ever-more introverted. But then Milly, literally the girl next door, who has suffered her own traumas, comes into his life and refuses to be shut out by his flights of fancy (these are powerful dramatic insertions by Castle Eric performs a childish mime of flying, his arms aloft, strongly implicating the cause, as well as the harsh reality, of his parents death as integral to his developing character).
Despite the pressures on them, and despite the ease with which this drama could slip into outright silliness, the central performances and the astute direction keep a lid on any sentimentality and leave behind a powerful, if not absolutely uplifting, impression of a troubled childs mindset.