Childfilms in Sweden

Both in the United States and Europe, the idea of children's films began to gain relative prominence in the 1930s. The term "family film" is essentially an American expression while "children's film" is considered to be a European expression.
However, the difference between the two terms can be seen in casting methods adopted by American and European films respectively. In American family films, the search for a child protagonist involves casting children that meet a specific criterion or standard for physical appearance. In contrast, European children's films look to cast children who appear "ordinary". Similarly, in American family films, the adult cast can be composed of well known actors or actresses in an effort to attract a wider audience, presenting narratives from an adult or parental perspective. This is shown through the casting, content of the plot, editing, and even mise-en-scène. European children's films are told from the child's perspective, portraying the story through the various emotions and experiences of the child.