Forever Young, Forever Free (1975) User Reviews (20)

A Movie I Never forgot

[SCarroll_76 · 6/10 · 1 November 2004]

A very heart-warming story and I would love to see it again. I saw this movie about 20 years ago and its one of the few I never forgot.(having only seen it once).

It tells the story of two children who become best of friends and get up to all kinds of mischief, some we can probably relate to ourselves. My memories of the adult actors are vague but I always remember the two youngsters who had me engrossed as an 8 year old.

It teaches us about the true value of friendship and this is highlighted especially in a certain moment in the movie.

A great movie for kids and adults alike.

A classic tale about the strength of friendship.

[tomosp1965 · 8/10 · 16 April 2015]

I, like a previous reviewer, watched this film as a child and was struck by the message within the film.

The two children in the central roles are fabulous, giving excellent performances, which is topped off with an equally great performance from Jose Ferrer.

Its an uplifting film in parts and contains many funny incidents, which are created by the films two main protagonists.

I would recommend this film to anyone with young children, as I loved this film as a child and even today I still have a fondness for it.

Great family fun, just be sure to have hankies at the ready at the end.

Powerful ending I will never forget

[AdrianOfSheffield · 8/10 · 17 February 2004]

Like an earlier poster, I was 13 years old and caught up in all the Star Wars hype. It was raining, and my mum dragged me into the cinema to see this. I did not want to see it. But the ending has remained with me ever since. (Yes, I did cry and so did my mum). I have no idea how it would seem now, but I would love to see it again.

Update 2009. I finally got hold of a copy on DVD and watched it with my daughter who is the same age now that I was when I last watched it.

The film seems a bit dated now, but the story still held my daughter's attention. That final scene still hits you like an emotional sledgehammer though, and I can report tears.

First Movie I appreciated

[oscar-26 · 10/10 · 6 April 2003]

I saw this movie as a 13-year-old boy as E' Lollipop. At that time I was wrapped up in Star Wars and other entertainment films. I went to see this film and it was the first time I cried in a movie--I was practically balling, secretly of course so I wouldn't be made fun of. I couldn't help it. This was the first time I actually had an appreciation for filmaking and seeing the deeper meaning a director has worked for. Forever Young has had a profound influence on me and the simple story of two boys sacrificing all for each other in a deep, nonsexual, relationship caused me to re-examine my boyhood friendships in a new light. It is not simple entertainment and carries a very serious message at many levels. Show it with care--it's not a movie to be seen by children by themselves or without any comment afterward; if they are paying attention at all, they will be affected by this powerful story.

Beautiful, Harmless, Delightful Film

[richard.fuller1 · 2 March 2002]

I saw this film about fifteen years ago and was overwhelmed by the enchanting fairytale story of a young child abandoned to the nuns and is raised by them in South Africa. He befriends a native child and they become inseparable. Add a fluffy puppy called Snowball and just allow yourself to watch. The film doesn't watch like a Disney film, the children are never precocious, when the adventures get serious, they aren't far-fetched. You see yourself doing those stupid things as a kid.

One accident brings the white child to America, and the native child journeys to visit him. The disastrous results of his arrival are spell-binding to watch unfold, as well as his rescue. Then New York is all theirs.

The film is so subtle, you don't realize it is Jose Ferrer and Karen Valentine in the movie. Even Bernadette Peter's song is gentle. Definitely watch this film if you are in a depressed mood. It will cheer you up. I would love to see it again, but believe it or not, I recorded Peter's song off on an audio cassette and still have it. What a charmer this film was.

I stumbled on the filming location...

[csemmelink · 6/10 · 31 October 2012]

It was in December of 1974 during a fuel shortage or embargo. We were driving down the Sani Pass on vapors in a VW micro bus from Lesotho into South Africa. From my memory, they didn't film in Lesotho but in the Drakenstein Mountains in South Africa. We hung out with the crew for a bit, played with the dog and its double and then bought some petrol from them and continued to the Natal Coast. We did go see the movie when it came out in Cape Town and later I saw it on TV in the States. Very different endings. It is a good little moral tale playing to decent sentiments in a country that was beginning to come to terms with the reality of apartheid only to come unstuck in 1976. The American version wasn't as effective.

A delightful memory from my childhood

[ocallaghan · 9/10 · 17 June 2002]

I lived in Africa for many years as a child and was taken to this movie at an outdoor movie theatre at the Etosha Pan game reserve. I saw this movie under the title "A Lollipop".

This is truely a film to inspire racial harmony and love and could serve a tool to teach our young children to be more tolerant.

This film deserves far more credit than it ever received.

Loved this movie. A must own

[gordonjunior10 · 10/10 · 24 January 2006]

I saw this movie as a young child my mother made me watch it. It left me with the feelings of no room for discrimination. The length's at which a child will go through for a friend. The young are so pure at heart and this film really reflects that idea. I am not to sure if I would watch it depressed. The movie portraits abuse and death. But above all there is plenty of unconditional love. I am currently looking for a copy to share with my children. I feel that every generation could learn a few things from this film. This movie was uplifting and left a very big impression on me, as I stated before I was young and yet I still remember it.

E'Lollipop

[Landx · 5/10 · 6 January 2020]

I was a 15 year old white boy in South Africa when I saw this and it made me feel awesome. One of those you never forget. Wasn't it called E'Lollipop?

Forever Young, Forever Free (1976) My view

[hmilerty · 10/10 · 6 December 2000]

This is one of the best kept secrets regarding films I have ever seen. The story is a must for both children and adults alike and clearly and quite beautifully illustrates the brotherhood of mankind.

I urge all people to see this film, I saw the film when I was 7 and it's memory has never left me since.

Outstanding, yet sadly forgotten

[baasrastus · 10/10 · 7 September 2005]

I will never rate something a ten without really believing that is what it is worth. The acting may not have been the best, the story had holes and there are technical issues. But this movie was released in 1976 in (Apartheid) South Africa. It was filmed and funded in South Africa at a time when no money was going to be given to something that was not going to appeal to the main-stream. With that taken into account it was a brilliant effort. The story is memorable, entertaining, thought-provoking and very touching. Viewed as 90 minutes of entertainment created with a budget of X against something like "Day After Tomorrow", created with a budget of X + $100million, then this is truly worthy of a rating of ten against a rating of somewhat less!

Unforgettable

[jilabel · 20 November 2004]

I saw this movie when it came out. I was 7 years old, and 28 years later it STILL hasn't left my head. It was exciting, frightening, touching, scary, beautiful, fun - I remember being transfixed to the screen while watching it. Tsepo's journey to NY, the boys rolling down the hill in the tires; all of these things are still vivid in my mind. I haven't come across a family/kid's adventure film like this since. I've hoped that someday they would put this movie out on DVD, because I have a 2 year old son now and I would LOVE for him to get to see this movie. I have never seen it on TV either. It's a movie everyone should see. Rarely do you get taken to South Africa in a kid's story.

Forever Young, Forever Free

[kaeverett · 10/10 · 25 November 2006]

This movie was exceptional. Like some of the other posts I too have never forgotten this movie. Very, very powerful - 30 years later I can still recall vivid images and details of this movie. I struggled to find the title of this movie as the only thing I could remember about the title was the word "free". I remember seeing the movie in the theater as a child; I figured the movie was released in the 70's; it seems so amazing to have such a memory of this film at the age of 7. What I remember most was the despair and alienation that the African boy was going through after arriving in New York to reconnect with his friend. His struggle seemed to mirror the feelings that I had as a adopted child that I could not find the words to express. I now have a family of my own and I would really love to have a copy of this movie.

I Never Forgot This Either!

[dknytodd · 10/10 · 14 May 2008]

I saw this at the Boys and Girls club in 1978. I was only 5 yrs old. This movie has stayed in my brain more than any other. I just recently watched it again on DVD and that one scene (if you've seen it...you know the one i mean) was just as horrifying to me now as it was back in '78. I went for a long time describing this movie to folks who had no idea what I was talking about. Thank god for Google. can't remember what I finally typed in to get a hit but it brought me here and after reading these comments and finding out the title of this film I tracked it down. So glad I did. It was weird seeing something again after 30 years. Definitely a good film. Keep in mind it is very sentimental but only in the very BEST way. I gave it a 10 because of it's resonance. I think this may have been the first full feature I ever watched with a projector.

From seeing this aged 8, shaped the person I am today

[veeliscious · 10/10 · 6 December 2006]

E-Lollipop was the first film I ever saw, aged 8, that made me cry over a human's death - before that it was only an animal's death that I ever cried at or cared about and has haunted me ever since. The film reached inside a part of me and touched my emotions so deeply to make me cry at injustice and what one human will do for another, despite obstacles and stigma - the devoted and loyal bond between the two boys clearly had a profound impact on me at such a young age as ever since then,I've constantly thought - what was that film? why is it never talked about like other classics? why has no one I ask ever heard of it? Why can't I buy it? I gave up. So at last, having googled it just now, I see that my memories of it are correct - and I see at last that it does indeed have a following (still don't know how to buy a copy!)and yes, I think all children, and adults of course, should have an opportunity to see it - I didn't know or remember that it was about Apartheid - or that it was based in South Africa, but I knew that it was about standing up for what is right, justice, love and loyalty,respect and consideration for all and to look for the beauty within EVERY person - values which I have carried ever since. Quite a remarkable impact for a film to have on a child so young, wouldn't you say?

I'll never forget it....

[jilabel · 5 August 2003]

I saw this movie in school of all places, when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I will never forget it. The adventurous story of these two boys takes you into places you normally don't see in a typical "kids" film. Sometimes scary, sometimes touching, it's very heartfelt and REAL. No schlock here. I'll always remember it.

A very Good Movie A++++++

[dnorton3322 · 10/10 · 29 January 2005]

Forever Young Forever Free is one of my most favorite movies. I saw it as a kid(1976), and loved it. I watched it in 2005, and I still Love it. I am saddened by all the violent movies being produced today. Family movies have gone the way of the Dinosaur.

I recommend it highly. Other movies that I recommend are the "Sheriff and the Satellite Kid","Ring of Bright Water","Chitty Chitty Bang Bang","Doctor Doolittle(Rex Harrison Version)", "Secret of NIHM", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "The Dark Crystal", "My Side of the Mountain", "The Treasure of Matacombay", "Escape to Witch Mountain and Return From Witch Mountain", "The Last Unicorn", and "Fiddler on the Roof" I hope that there will be more movies like "Forever Young Forever Free " will be put on DVD. The relationship between the Blacks and the Whites in the movie was a breath of fresh air.

1976 Immigrant to South Africa 🇬🇧🇿🇦

[stephen-kay-83819 · 9/10 · 30 November 2020]

My dad sent me to watch when it was released in the cinemas in the UK around in 1975, as an introduction to the family's planned emigration to South Africa in July 1976. It was true to life, and easy life could be. Real life hit me in the face flying over Soweto, Johannesburg at the height of the anti-apartheid riots and my dad explaining to me why it happened.

My favourite movie of all time

[rgilland1966 · 10/10 · 7 October 2020]

You will leave these movie in tears, and it will move your heart for the rest of your life. You simply cannot watch this movie and remain unchanged.

Classic South African Motion Picture

[engage-1 · 29 January 2004]

Nearly three decades ago during South Africa's darkest years, one `Classic South African Motion Picture' story changed the lives of millions. This international award winning Motion Picture catapulted its cast into the arena of childhood stardom in the Untied States, Australia and South Africa. Nearly three decades on and the documented demand for the return of this Cult Classic is stronger than ever. Amazing. Where has it been all these years?