It is smaller, less obvious, things in the film, that make it work at all, for despite the good acting, and the detailed story, the film falls flat at times. At other times, it grabs at the viewer. As example, it is a crippled boy, Joseph (François Négret), who works in the kitchen and deals on the Black Market, and who the other boys mock and scorn, who turns in the headmaster and Jewish boys.
Why? Because he ended up taking the blame for the thievery at the school, rather than the school’s drunken old cook Madame Perrin (Jacqueline Paris). This is an explicable reaction from a boy unaware of the depth of his action's evil. All he wanted was vengeance on the headmaster, who he felt sold him out. In doing so, he became an accomplice to murder.
Unfortunately, these moments are not the bulk of the film, and it is not until the last twenty minutes or so, when the Gestapo comes calling, that the film really grabs a hold of the viewer, as the last scene does pack a great punch, even if it is telegraphed, for it does not strain one’s kitsch tolerance nor facial tissue supply.
Before that, however, the school and its students could be the very one from the Harry Potter series of children’s films, or even from François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows. The scenes they watch from a Charlie Chaplin short, The Immigrant, not only act as a contrast to the situation at hand - a nation occupied - but the digressive moment in the film has its antecedents in many other films on war and/or coming of age tales.
There are also nice moments of bonding, when the two boys freestyle some jazz piano as the rest of the school goes to the air raid shelter, and there are a few good scenes between them and the beautiful piano teacher, Davenne (Irène Jacob, in her screen debut). But much of the rest of the film has trite, predictable, and unneeded scenes of bullying, kids smoking behind buildings, razzing one another, etc. Yes, this has occurred from time immemorial, and flavors the film with a sense of banal realism, but these things could have been elicited in a 90-second montage, thus reducing the film from its 101 minute running time to about 80 minutes, a good quarter of which would have been the final meaty part.
Article comments
1 - moonraven
The first and, by far, the best film in Malle's trilogy of coming of age pictures is Le Souffle au Coeur (1971--released in the US as Murmur of the Heart).
It's a much more complex film than either Lacombe Lucien or Au revoir, les enfants--and it has the ebulliently wonderful actress Lea Massari as the mother, Clara, as well as a fine performance by Benoit Ferreux as Laurent.
The film did not receive the attention it deserved when it was released, as many critics were reluctant to take on the incest theme.
A charming,compassionate picture. Well worth re-seeing several times.
2 - Justin
This is simply one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. We just watched this in French class, and there is only one word for it: amazing.
This is just one of those movies that can touch you deep down, and it left all of us thinking. This movie was powerful enough to move EVERYBODY. By the end, you found everybody from sensitive freshman girls to seniors on the varsity football team bawling their eyes out.
Between the moving (and true) story line and the incredible acting, this is a must-see.
3 - Christine
Although I agree with the critic on some points (the film does not engage one as it could) It left me thinking and made me come back again to absorb more. I watched it because my former supervisor at work has a bit part in it as one of the soliders who rounded up the Jewish boys. Not often you get to see your former boss in a Gestopo uniform! I thought the boys were excellent in their parts, but I DID wish to feel more for them when the Gestopo stormed in.
4 - bliffle
Excellent movie. As one would expect from Louis Malle.
Portrayal of people is his strongest skill. Even a modest Malle venture, such as the seldom seen TV documentary "Gods Country" (I seem to be one of the few who have seen it) shows his clarity of portrayal.
5 - bliffle
Excellent movie. As one would expect from Louis Malle.
Portrayal of people is his strongest skill. Even a modest Malle venture, such as the seldom seen TV documentary "Gods Country" (I seem to be one of the few who have seen it) shows his clarity of portrayal.