This pleasant and engaging Lumière feature is enjoyable to watch, and it also shows the feel that Lumière had for choosing subject matter for his pioneering movies. As simple as it is, the footage of children digging for clams works in itself, and it can also help to conjure up other childhood memories and activities.
The children seem to have having a great time, whether or not they catch anything. Their zeal for a simple task (which an adult would probably consider to be work) is similar to many other things that the young do in exploring the natural world, and it is worthwhile just to see such eager innocence.
It's also interesting to note that almost all of the children take no notice of the camera, intent as they are on their quest for clams. One girl, though, very obviously cannot resist an occasional peek at the camera, and it makes for some endearing moments. The nice clothing that the children are wearing (while playing in the mud) just seems to add to the overall effect.
The whole scene is set up nicely, so as to catch a lot in the camera field. It's a simple, pleasant feature of the kind that still retains its appeal even many years later.
