The opening sequence is very good. A little girl from the city is thrown into tragic circumstances. She befriends a boy a few years older than she is and is temporarily adopted by his farming family. There are funny moments dealing with the family's rivalry with the neighboring family, and with relationships within the Dolle family household. It is interesting how the children try to cope with the tragedy of war, but I was not overly impressed by the five year old actress. Her acting method did not seem particularly natural.
This is by far the best movie starring children that I have ever seen. Intense and moving, with an amazing, heartfelt performance by Brigitte Fossey in particular. In my opinion, this is one of the "must see" films for everyone.
A tender portrait of innocence that's threatened in the midst of war. This would be a perfect film to remake-- only have it take place in Iraq circa 2003.
Most certainly one of the finest films on every level that I have ever seen. Poetic and heart-wrenching, this is a story of the innocence of children or what becomes of it when tainted with the horrors of war. The direction, the lighting the score, the cinematography and above all the performances, especially by the two young children in this film are remarkable. Bridgette Fossey was only 5 and truly amazing. She plays a young girl lost midst the nghtmare of World War II and walks into the lives of a poor farming family who take her in as she befriends their youngest son. The special features on the DVD offers an alternate opening and closing to the film that has never been released and they were quite interesting to view as well as various interviews about the film through the years with director Rene Clement and also with Bridgett Fossey when she was 20 and another just in 2001 now in her 50s. This film is considered by many to be a masterpiece and I do have to agree.
I cannot comprehend Truffaut's criticism of this film, it boggles the hell outta me. I normally love and love reading them, but for this film, I despise it. This film talks about death and even killing in a way that feels so genuinely curious, that you don't think it strange at all while watching. The way they talk of it and presented here is just fascinating.
Wonderful ! a movie from the heart, about the beautiful and innocent secret life of two little kids.If you don't find it touching,you simply have no heart! It makes you laugh,cry,think and follow the steps of this two loving creatures very curiously!
C'est la guerre et pourtant on la voit à peine. L'ouverture du film uniquement, suffisement pour détruire une famille, puis ensuite l'enfance. Rien qu'une jeunesse avec ses jeux espiègles. Bien qu'on ne la voit pas, la guerre existe réellement chez ces gamins et elle vient teinter leur éveil à la vie. Est-ce normal de jouer à la mort à 5 ans?
Le film retient surtout notre attention sur cette révélation des jeux des deux acteurs principaux. Bien avant Ponette, il y avait cette sensibilité juvénile et cette naïveté du jeu dans le film de Clément. Parce que ces enfants ne savaient pas encore ce qu'était le cinéma à cette époque, la gamine n'avait même jamais vu d'écran. Le DVD Criterion offre multiples entrevues avec Brigitte Fossey, toutes très pertinantes et plus intéressantes les unes que les autres.
Passage obligé dans le «coming of age film»; un des premiers en mon sens et encore aujourd'hui, un des plus justes.
A very interesting film that explores how children react to war. In the case of this film, they react by making a graveyard for dead animals but end up going to great lengths to acquire the crosses for it. Very interesting.
Brigitte Fossey was amazing in this film. It's a story about a young girl who after witnessing her parents being killed by German planes is taken into a new family by an older boy who she forms a strong bond with. The two began a macabre game of ritualizing death. Their fascination with death is disturbing because it is portrayed so naturally and realistically. One of the saddest movies ever.
an intense and stoical look at the blood and decimation that will consume even innocent children and how they cope in such adversity, the acting was touching and poignant, an impact right at the soul
MCT:June 29, 2008
MCT:April 7, 2008
MCT:March 20, 2008
MCT:February 16, 2007
