Lasse Hallström's "My Life as a Dog": More Than Just Coming-of-Age?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching Lasse Hallström's My Life as a Dog (1985). I know, I know, I'm late to the party. Been trying to work my way through more of his filmography. I'd mostly seen his later Hollywood stuff, which, some of it isn't bad (I actually have a soft spot for Chocolat, don't @ me), but this felt... different. It's just got this raw, almost melancholic sweetness that's so much more affecting. Anton Glanzelius as Ingemar is just phenomenal. You completely understand his anxieties and his coping mechanisms, this whole thing of comparing himself to others to feel better, or at least, less alone. The scene where he's trying to figure out if Yuri Gagarin had a dog and what happened to it is both funny and profoundly sad. And then he's shipped off to his Aunt and Uncle, and that whole dynamic shift is so well done. The new town has a totally different feel to it than the first, especially in the lighting. I kept thinking about how Hallström handled the more difficult themes – Ingemar's mother's illness, the casual cruelty of some of the other kids – without ever becoming heavy-handed or melodramatic. It gives it this really authentic feel, you know? It's not trying to manipulate you, it's just showing you a slice of this kid's life. The whole boxing scene at the end (trying not to spoil TOO much), with the little girl Saga, is just beautiful; it's like Ingemar finally finds a way to channel all that pent-up frustration and sadness into something constructive. Overall, it's a really thoughtful and moving film. It's easy to brush it off as just another coming-of-age story, but I think it's got more depth than that. It's about finding your place in the world, even when the world feels stacked against you. Definitely worth checking out if you're into more character-driven films. Anyone else enjoy this one as much as I did? What's your favorite Hallström movie?