Excellent

Feel this film needs more discussion, and maybe even a bit of defending from what I've seen in other threads.

I thought it was just excellent.

I would mention this alongside films like Stand By Me and The Tree of Life, and that even catches me by surprise as I consider those works, more or less, as the holy grail of films about childhood and adolescence (though there are, of course, many others and The Tree of Life is a lot of things on top of that).

Nevertheless, comparisons to TToL, for example, only begin with both protagonists (Hunter McCracken and Ryan Jones) being similar in appearance, not to mention caught up in similar situations - the death of someone close.
Where it retains deeper comparisons is in its dealings with death itself, nature, mortality and childhood which it carries out in a very contemplative way but not quite in a spiritual vein like Malick's epic. There's a little more in terms of plot here and less impressionism and birth of the universe material.
They tackle similar issues but in a different way, essentially. The two are similarly paced but while TToL achieves this, strangely, through a lot of quick cutting, HYSF does it in a manner which you would think of as more appropriate for a slowly paced film: long takes, slow zooms (Malick NEVER zooms... except maybe Badlands?).

But this film deserves more than to simply be compared to others with which it shares themes and ideas. It is its own work, and a great one at that.
Stylistically and tonally it is spot on: solemn and sombre within its rich, green surroundings.
I admit, I actually found it quite a stressful watch but that's because Daniel Patrick Carbone not only makes you care about his characters, he makes you worry for them every step of the way as well. Playing with guns, messing around on high bridges, the kids flirt with death on a regular basis and are largely left to their own devices.
Will they suffer the same fate as their poor friend at the beginning of the film or will his death serve a positive purpose from which they can learn?

A lot of questions are asked in this film and the answers are difficult and evasive. Who truly understands death or this life? It is a difficult enough concept for adults let alone children.

When films such as this come around, it isn't rare to see complaints about "another American, white boy movie - why should I care?". True, the themes these films tackle are well worn (aren't superhero films as well?) but when they are tackled in a serious and respectful way, it is only fair that they be treated in an equal manner, regardless of one's opinion of the film, and Hide Your Smiling Faces certainly merits this.