But after reading it, I couldn't imagine it making a good movie since nothing ever really happens in terms of plot and movies driven by anything but plot seem to fail.

Do they fail as movies ... or fail to make a lot of money at the box office? You're right that there is no traditional dramatic arc to this one -- but, it had a significant emotional impact on me, so, in that sense, I call it a success.

I see this one as a similar type of movie to "Nobody Knows" (which also had a huge emotional impact on me). Very slow. Not much happens. But you really get to care about the characters. [If you think about it, much of life is: "very slow; not much happens"]

I think I'll leave my big budget hollywood blockbuster loving YF behind for this one.

Yeah, probably a good idea :-) Actually, I think my YF would like it. Whenever we watch movies, he's always picking serious human dramas -- holocaust movies, movies about racism -- sometimes they're even subtitled. He's a little odd that way (for someone his age), but I love that about him.

Blessings,
Rainboy