Louis Malle - Au Revoir Les Enfants on DVD (1987)

S Dale from Colchester, Engalnd , 25/03/2005

Louis Malle's treatment of what is still a controversial subject is a moving experience on several levels. His tale of the friendship between a Jewish boy and a non-Jewish French boy in France during the occupation in WWII evokes many emotions. In some ways it is a tale of innocence lost, childhood's end if you like. In other ways its an almost spiritual tale about friendship, guilt, redemption and loss. It is beautifully shot and masterfully edited. Based on a true story and the experiences of the director this film deserves better recognition; it left me with a deep sense of sadness but not entirely without hope. Despite the evil that men do, there are still those who will fight evil, whatever the cost. Watch and be inspired to be a better person.

  17 out of 17 people found this review helpful

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Steamcarrot from East Yorkshire , 05/05/2007

***Spoilers****

A film with understatement at every corner, this mostly auotbiographical, tale from the masterly hand of Louis Malle keeps the viewer riveted as he tells the tale of schoolboy friendship cruelly torn apart by the Nazi regime. Julien is your normal schoolboy, not wanting to go back to his boarding school after the Christmas holidays. Once back he finds a new boy occupying the bed next to him. Distrust and schoolboy bravado initially hold him back from becoming a friend. The other boy, Jean, is the antithesis of a normal schoolboy, dour and lacking in energy. But he intrigues Julien and he eventually uncovers the truth that Jean is a jew and has, with a few others, been taken in by the priests who run the school to hide them from the Nazis. By the time the inevitable happens, Julien and Jean have become friends and he shares with Jean some stolen moments of happines. Au Revoir Les Enfants is a strong study of childhood and also childhood robbed, whether it's Julien being confronted with such evil that he cannot be a carefree child again or Jean, who who would never get to the chance to be anything else but a memory. It has a desperately sad ending but I felt honoured to bear witness to such a life changing event in somebody's life. The horrors of the holocaust have been shown often, and quite rightly, but this one makes you look at it through the eyes of a child who has no real understanding of what's going on but who has it horrifically brought to his attention in one fateful day. The title of film, as said by Pere Jean as he is led away by the Gestapo, is not just saying goodbye to his wards, it's also saying goodbye to childhood and the loss of innocence. No more can these people frolic as children. They have a burden which no child should have.

  12 out of 18 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Portsmouth, UK. , 11/09/2006

This is a beautifully filmed and acted story about two boys who become friends in a French boarding school during the German occupation of WW2. Watch it - you will not regret it. Touching and poignant reminder of the true human effect of Nazi inhumanity.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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Lelboy , 07/04/2007

This is a first class film - as is often the case with Louis Malle. The emotionality of it is eye opening; good script (from life) and top notch acting make this a film not to be missed.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

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Steamcarrot from East Yorkshire , 05/05/2007

***Spoilers****

A film with understatement at every corner, this mostly auotbiographical, tale from the masterly hand of Louis Malle keeps the viewer riveted as he tells the tale of schoolboy friendship cruelly torn apart by the Nazi regime. Julien is your normal schoolboy, not wanting to go back to his boarding school after the Christmas holidays. Once back he finds a new boy occupying the bed next to him. Distrust and schoolboy bravado initially hold him back from becoming a friend. The other boy, Jean, is the antithesis of a normal schoolboy, dour and lacking in energy. But he intrigues Julien and he eventually uncovers the truth that Jean is a jew and has, with a few others, been taken in by the priests who run the school to hide them from the Nazis. By the time the inevitable happens, Julien and Jean have become friends and he shares with Jean some stolen moments of happines. Au Revoir Les Enfants is a strong study of childhood and also childhood robbed, whether it's Julien being confronted with such evil that he cannot be a carefree child again or Jean, who who would never get to the chance to be anything else but a memory. It has a desperately sad ending but I felt honoured to bear witness to such a life changing event in somebody's life. The horrors of the holocaust have been shown often, and quite rightly, but this one makes you look at it through the eyes of a child who has no real understanding of what's going on but who has it horrifically brought to his attention in one fateful day. The title of film, as said by Pere Jean as he is led away by the Gestapo, is not just saying goodbye to his wards, it's also saying goodbye to childhood and the loss of innocence. No more can these people frolic as children. They have a burden which no child should have.

  12 out of 18 people found this review helpful

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Lelboy , 07/04/2007

This is a first class film - as is often the case with Louis Malle. The emotionality of it is eye opening; good script (from life) and top notch acting make this a film not to be missed.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews