This beautifully made film is poignant, and will live on in your memory long after you have seen it.I saw it on television ten years ago, and I still remember it and wanted to vote for it when I actually got round to recording my opinion on IMDB.The plot follows to girls from Quebec and reflects the 'pass on by' attitude to those in need of the 1980s, and I am sorry to say also of today. Well worth a watch.

For the most part, this is a dull story that focuses on two unhappy teenage girls. Very rarely, there was a moment that was mildly interesting, but usually not much was going on. The ending, I must admit, was quite good, but the setup for the grim finale was painfully slow. It's too bad that such a powerful ending was wasted on this dud of a movie.

This is one of those movies where you must be patient with. For the first 45 minutes or so, you will believe this film is going nowhere. It doesn`t help that some of the subtitles are poor, and not everything is adequately translated. But if you stick with this story, you will discover that it is a simple, cold, but powerful tale of two lonely, somewhat self-absorbed teenage girls, who feel alienated enough to attempt to connect emotionally with strangers. One girl tries to strike up a friendship with a bus driver, while the other girl tries to run away on a cargo ship, and for a brief time connects with a European member of the crew. When their hopes are dashed, however, the girls take desperate measures. I was not prepared for the conclusion to this seemingly uneventful movie. I did not expect it to be as strong... and as upsetting....as it actually became. I myself was very shocked and upset enough at the end of this movie to say that Sonatine contains the most depressing ending of any movie I`ve seen....so if you are of fragile emotions, and are easily upset, be prepared!!

Without selling you out on the punch.. this movie might seem slow moving at times. But after seeing what happens to the 2 girls you will give yourself a second look at the movie. Actor interpretations were simplistic. But the message is Extremely Clear. Pascale Bussières and Marcia Pilote show us how people can be so indifferent and it makes you realise that sometimes it is good to care for a perfect stranger and to not ignore your children