Au Revoir Les Enfants is an autobiographical film, set during the Nazi occupation of France in the 1940s , when governed the collaborationist govern directed by Petain and Laval. At a boarding school comes Julien, there he befriends the strange boy called Jean Bonnet who is submitted to cruel jokes and bullied by his schoolmates but he holds a mysterious secret. Meantime, the principal of the Catholic boarding school hides Jewish little boys among the other pupils by altering their identities.
An interesting and thought-provoking script about children at a Carmelite convent school run by a good headmaster who hides three Jew kiddies by changing names, surnames and concerning their frienship and treason among them, these are the main premises that develop this enjoyable film. It is an emotionally wrenching drama, as well as a sombre, lovingly detailed movie, regarding goodness, comradeship, friendship, but also lies, bigotry, and betrayal that ends tragically . Being based on real events, upon an incident from filmmaker Malle's infancy, as being a student he was at a boarding school. Being made in 1987 when other films with similar themes exhibited on the big screen, such as Empire of the sun by Steven Spielberg and Hope and glory by John Boorman. The very young cast is unknown, exception for Irene Jacob as the piano teacher, but all of them giving agreeable acting.
It contains evocative and adecuate cinematography by Renato Berta, as well as sensitive musical score. The motion picture was splendidly directed by Louis Malle whose emotional power remains undeniable. This pic is deemed to be his best movie to date and quite possibly the film results to be the best he ever made. It won several prizes as 1988 British Academy Award to director, Cesar Award to Art direction, Set design, cinematography, Sound, Writing, director, Film and L. A. Film Critics to Foreign Film, and Venice Film Festival to best film. Director Louis Malle who married Candice Bergen is considered to be one of the best French directors of film history . He made good movies, usuallly with big name actors playing intelligent dramas and regarding interesting and brooding issues. As Malle directed various important films as "Frantic" , "The lovers" with Jeanne Moreau, "A very private affair" , "Viva Maria" with Brigitte Bardot and Moreau, "The fire within", "Spirits of the dead" , "Murmur of the heart", "Pretty baby" with Brooke Shields, My dinner with Andre, Atlantic City with Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, "Crackers", "Alamo Bay" with Ed Harris, "May fools" , "Damage" with Jeremy Irons and "Vanya on 42nd Street", among others. Rating : 7/10. Better than average. Well worth watching. Essential indispensable seeing.
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