A dangerous film.

... to play a story like this straight, without any disney-esque characterisation, without any schmalz - it's plain dangerous. Actually being respectful of the child character, playing to his level, communicating so intimately with child viewers. Perhaps that's why it effected to many of us when very young - because it's a film that really says to kids, "hey, you're strong too, just as strong as sammy." I don't know much about psychology and all that, but I feel watching this film as a tiny 4 year old many years ago, it was the first suggestion I ever had that I could break away from my parents too. Weird, I may be going OTT here, but I have the feeling that this film encouraged me to sort of break prematurely from my parents, and almost resent them for providing such a comfortable life. I desperately wanted to be sammy...

I guess film does that.