Chantal Mercier, Christine Pellé, Claudio De Luca, Franck De Luca , Georges Desmouceaux ...( see more  see more... ) , Jean-François Stévenin , Laurent Devlaeminck , Nicole Félix , Philippe Goldmann , Richard Golfier , Tania Torrens , Virginie Thévenet

L'Argent de Poche (Small Change) is an episodic comedy drama composed of several sequences that explore childhood in director François Truffaut's signature humanistic style. Filmed in Thiers in South ...( read more  read more... )Central France, each vignette is seen from the point of view of a kid from two weeks to 14 years old. There is no real plot, just little scenes flowing together dealing with personal joys and pains of the children in a small town. While most of the issues are simple and lighthearted, some of the kids have a harder time growing up. A few choice moments involve a double date at the movies, brothers who give a friend a haircut, and a toddler who falls from a window. Patrick (Georges Desmouceaux) discovers girls and helps care for his father, Sylvie (Sylvie Grizel) rebels against her parents, and Julien (Philippe Goldmann) comes from a painful home life. While mostly focusing on developing the personal perspectives of children, adults get some screen time to share their wisdom. The conclusion consists of a monologue from the schoolteacher, played by Jean-François Stévenin.~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

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8 critics

PG, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: François Truffaut

Release Date: March 17, 1976

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DVD Release Date: January 23, 2001

Stats: 133 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (133)


  • August 7, 2009
    In Francois Truffaut's "The 400 Blows", perhaps the most famous of his films, he tells the story of a child cursed with extraordinary misfortunes due to a poor home life and unintuitive teachers. "Small Change" also deals with kids in the same age group, however it's a film much ...( read more)more universally relatable. While "The 400 Blows" centers in on a certain kind of individual (one which, tragically, is probably not too rare), "Small Change" is sort of an homage to adolescence as a whole. Dealing with almost a dozen characters (most of which are children, but teachers and parents also come into the mix), Truffaut beautifully weaves together vignettes of the aches of puberty.

    The film doesn't formally introduce us to anyone. Gradually, as the film goes along, you begin learn who is who and what their lives entail. There is a tragic child, not unlike Antoine from "The 400 Blows", in Julien (Philippe Goldmann), a young boy from a broken home. His classmates don't quite know what to make of him, and their response to the reveal that Julien has been abused is so incredibly authentic in their obliviousness but worriment all at once.

    Some of the episodes can almost play as sketch comedy. There's a scene in a movie theater where two young couples are double dating. One of the couples kisses passionately, but the other boy is too shy to make the move on "his" girl. The more outgoing of the two notices this, so he switches seats, thinking as though his friend preferred the other girl. Finally, when the shy boy fails to make a move on either one, the outgoing one sits between the two girls and alternates between kissing each one.

    Depicting childhood curiosity and the innumerable amount of dangers that await an infant, Truffaut shows a toddler crawl out of the window of a ten story building after a cat. The scene is milked for all it's worth - as an audience member, you cannot help but gasp and cover your eyes. I won't spoil how the scene ends, but it's unexpected and completely unforgettable.

    "Small Change" is not about the individuals, but it's rather a thorough remembrance of childhood. Truffaut's only dealing with archetypes, but he has a tremendously observant eye that finds success in focusing on the subtleties of an adolescent's behavior. Truffaut was known for his success in working with children, and I don't think that it's illustrated anymore beautifully in his body of work than in "Small Change".
  • February 19, 2007
    Otherwise known as L'Argent de Poche. I saw this back in the late 70's for my high school French class. Cute movie but no real plot.
  • August 21, 2007
    I could watch an entire feature of that little Gregory kid. But not if he keeps falling out of windows. That was not funny.
  • July 22, 2009
    Charming film about various children, their lives, innocence, simple pleasures and their sorrows. Extremely well directed by Francois Truffaut who has always had a knack for directing children. He has amazing understanding and insight. The cast is uniformly great. It's an unusual...( read more) film, memorable, thought provoking and well worth seeing.
  • November 20, 2008
    nominated for best foreign film by NBR and at the golden globes
  • July 6, 2008
    Cute film. Probably the only French film I'ver ever liked.
  • May 23, 2008
    How can I decide whether I want to watch this movie when there is no information on it.
  • February 22, 2008
    This cast, consisting of mainly children, was amazing! I have never seen such inexperienced young actors give such a true to life acting performance! This movie flows very well, though at the same time it manages to weave through many different story lines and keep it's audience ...( read more)involved.
  • December 29, 2007
    Truffaut's take on childhood. Enchanting.
  • October 30, 2007
    cute french movie about children..growing up..so much going on..

Critic Reviews


October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

[Truffaut] ecreates childhood, and yet he sees it objectively, too: He remembers not only the funny moments but the painful ones. full review

View more L' Argent de Poche (Pocket Money) (Small Change) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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