Back in 2017, we got the film Wonder based on the novel by R.J. Palacio. It focused on a young boy, who despite physical and emotional obstacles, managed to find his place in the world. The cast featured Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, and it became something of an emotional hit for target audiences.

A part of that movie was a bully named Julian, played by Bryce Gheisar, who was eventually booted from the school. The film White Bird is based on another Palacio novel and is connected to Wonder through Julian. We pick up with Julian at a new school where, after his past experiences, he’s just trying to keep his head down.

When he connects with his grandmother (Helen Mirren), he conveys that the lesson he learned was that he should try to be unnoticed. His grandmother urges Julian that wasn’t the real lesson to take away from his past experience. In order to push him in a new direction, she tells him the story of her childhood and of his namesake.

We meet a young Sara (Ariella Glaser), a budding artist and a Jew trying to survive in France as World War II is breaking out. Her parents are split on the danger, but the presence of the Nazis, and their increasing move through France to occupation, has them concerned. When the Nazis begin rounding up all the Jews, Sara hides in her school.

There, a young boy named Julian (Orlando Schwerdt) finds her and brings her home to hide. Though Sara was never particularly friendly toward Julian before, he and his family risk everything to keep her safe and keep her hidden. Along the way, their friendship deepens as his display of unfailing kindness has a profound impact on all her life.

This film had a long journey to the screen, with marketing at different times over the past few years. It started out with strong connections to Wonder, but as we’ve moved closer to release the film is being marketed to stand on its own. Whether you remember that first film, or just come in cold this will work fine. The connection to the previous film is faint and has little to do with how this story plays out.

We spend most of our time in flashback. The story of young Sara and her Julian is the heart of the film. Stories of WWII, and the cruelty, courage, and kindness of the various participants continues to be inspiring. That’s certainly the case here. As one might guess by how the story begins, we have an inkling of the darker twists to come.

Still, the third act here is powerful and beautiful. Both the playing out of events in the past and the resolution when we move back to the present is effective and, at times, beautiful. Mirren does a nice job, as does Gillian Anderson in a moving supporting role as Julian’s mother in flashbacks. Glaser and Schwerdt are also good, drawing you into this story and relationship.

This is an emotional and engaging tale that surprised me. It will be a powerful experience for those who go to check it out.

White Bird opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, October 4.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.