Valley of Peace (The Peaceful Valley)

This Yugoslavian drama was released in English-speaking countries as The Peaceful Valley and Sergeant Jim. In the tradtion of Rene Clement's Forbidden Games, the film offers a child's-eye perspective of WW2. A group of war orphans run away from an institution in search of a mythical peaceful valley (hence the title). Along the way, they befriend an African American aviator who has crashed behind enemy lines. The relationship between the children and the aviator somewhat unsubtly makes the point that "outcasts attract" in times of peril. The principal adult character is played by Michigan-born John Kitzmiller, who won a Cannes Film Festival award for his performance. (Hal Erickson: All Movie Guide)