The film made the point that it was possible for a Jewish family to live in wartime Italy in the idyllic country scene,where children did childish things and lived a normal life.The family servants,the clergy and the local population knew who they were,and they were not persecuted.It was only when the retreating German Army came on the scene that the fate of the family was sealed.I understand the story is based on incidents in the Mazzetti family,and may be written as a novel,but I can understand why it was written and filmed the way it was.I found the film engaging and very moving.