THE FOX AND THE CHILD (aka LE RENARD ET L’ENFANT) with Bertille Noel-Bruneau, Isabelle Carre and Thomas Laliberte). Written and directed by Luc Jacquet.

THIS new drama from the writer and director of March of the Penguins is one of the most visually impressive pieces of film you’re likely to see this year, although the storyline doesn’t quite keep up that level of quality.

The film is set in France, where a little girl (an excellent performance by Bertille Noel-Bruneau) lives on the edge of a forest with her parents (who are not seen at any point of the film).

She loves exploring, and one day while riding her bicycle through the forest, she encounters a fox, and immediately decides that she is going to tame the creature.

Her initial attempts are fruitless and on one chase she ends up falling and breaking her leg, and has to spend the winter cooped up in her room, worrying whether the fox will survive the harsh elements and the predators in the area.

Once the snow melts, she continues her quest and gradually befriends the fox until she reaches the point where it will even let her touch it, and one night when she gets lost, even sleeps next to her.

But she soon discovers that wild animals don’t make good pets, particularly when she makes the mistake of bringing it into her own house. The film is all live-action, although there are some scenes, particularly the one in the house, where one wonders whether CGI may have been used.

In addition to the fox, viewers see a bear, frogs, otters, badgers, hedgehogs and a variety of bird-life including kingfishers and cuckoos.

The cinematography is breathtaking as the young girl explores hills, valleys, riverbanks, caves, forests and plains through all the seasons of the year.

It’s the sort of film that, while the story isn’t that mentally stimulating, you want to just sit back and enjoy the visuals.

It’s suitable for the whole family, although young children may be disturbed by some of the hunting footage (both when foxes are hunted by people and by other animal predators).

If you enjoyed films like March of the Penguins and Earth, then this movie, which is in French with English subtitles, is a must this holiday season.