GOODBYE, CHILDREN... THE FOREIGN REVIEW

"A very eloquent style of film making, very subtle and refined."

"The story takes place in the crossroads between the innocent, sheltered world of childhood, and the brutal reality of adult life."

The story begins at a French train station in January of 1943. Boys 12 years to 17 years are boarding the train to go back to their Catholic boarding school. One 12 year old boy, Julien Quentin (Gaspard Manesse) is pleading with his mother, Mm. Quentin (Francine Racette), to let him stay with her. He doesn't want to go back. After a tender conversation with his mother, Julien reluctantly gets aboard the train, with an angry, sad, resentful attitude, slipping into survival mode, which isn't conducive to making friends. His experienced older brother, Francois (Stanislas Carré De Malberg), also goes to the school, but he isn't much comfort to Julien.

At bedtime, after they have made the long journey back to the school, Pere Jean (Philippe Morier-Genoud) ushers in a pale, new boy, Jean Bonnet (Raphael Fejto) into the dormitory. Jean takes the bed right next to Julien, opening up his suitcase, which has about 7 books in it, along with clothes. Julien, who loves to read, immediately notices. It becomes obvious that Jean is going to be Julien's academic rival. Though giving off hostile vibes to Jean, Julien is drawn to, and is fascinated with Jean. Like a good detective, Julien puts two and two together and learns the secret that Jean must not tell. As they find themselves enjoying the same things, and experience some adventures together, Julien and Jean become true friends.

Meanwhile, the audience observes what life is like in this boarding school, which offers a haven from the ugliness and grim reality of the dangerous world around them. The classes, the various personalities, the religious instruction, the priests who teach and run the school, and the various activities, legal and not so legal that the boys partake in are shown to the audience in an entertaining and poignant fashion.

One practice, that causes a lot of trouble later on in the story, was the black market that Joseph (Francois Négret), the kitchen helper was running. Julien would bring his mother's jelly, to exchange with Joseph for marbles or stamps. Other boys did the same thing. Inevitably, this operation is discovered, and the boys are chastised by Pere John and Joseph is dismissed. Unfortunately, Joseph doesn't go away quietly but seeks revenge, becoming an informer, joining a despised group of the French community known as collaborators, and tells the local, neighborhood Gestapo about the secrets living at the school.

Heartbreak and a reality of the real world descends upon the boys and staff, when the Gestapo pays a visit, scaring and intimidating all, arresting Pere Jean and whisking away the boys with these secrets to their deaths in concentration camps, closing the school for the rest of the year. As they say good-bye to Pere Jean, they also say good-bye to childhood innocence.

This poignant, award-winning tear-jerker was the masterpiece of its writer/ director / producer Louis Malle, who was one of the French Nouvelle Vague ("New Wave") directors in the 1950's and 1960's. He was known on both sides of the Atlantic for creating "films that explored life and its meaning, always exploring different themes in each of his films."

Filmed in an actual boy's boarding school, L'institution Sainte-Croix a la S.W.C.F., the screenplay and its wonderful direction really brings Louis Malle's painful personal memory to life, one which has haunted him. It wasn't easy for him to make this film, but he faced his pain from long ago and created a classic.

Malle's screenplay delicately weaves together incidents, details and dialogue, which all tie together, creating a riveting story. Nothing in the scenes is wasted; all has its importance intelling the story, which inspires one to see the film again to catch what you missed the first time.

Louis Malle did a superb job working with his talented cast of children and adults, many of whom were just getting started in their careers or were in their first and last film.

Gaspard Manesse, who portrayed Julien and Raphael Fejto, who portrayed Jean Bonnet both were very convincing and gave the audience terrific performances, under the talented direction of Malle.

My favorite sequence of scenes is their adventure together in the woods, where they get lost participating in a competition where two teams try to find the hidden box. They get lost together, but are rescued by two terrifying characters - two German soldiers on patrol. Luckily the Germans are both Catholic, and bring them back to the school.

Francois Négret, in his third film, was very convincing as the scruffy kitchen helper, Joseph who is caught running a black market operation, and turns into a collaborator for the Germans. This performance jump-started his career which led to many other French projects.

Accomplished German actor, Peter Fitz, gives a cold-hearted, chilling performance as the Gestapo officer, Maller who comes to the school to find / sniff out the Jewish boys hiding there.

Irène Jacob made her film debut here in a small part as a piano teacher, Mlle Davenne.

Au Revoir Les Enfants (Goodbye, Children) is rated PG. When the stark reality brought about by the nasty Gestapowho descend upon the school, it is a pretty sad, depressing conclusion, which may be too much for sensitive children. Children that can read the English subtitles will be engrossed by the film. Parents can point out that one teacher does escape, and that Julien and his older brother, François come closer together as a result of this traumatizing experience.

If you enjoyed GOODBYE, CHILDREN, you may like LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, REUNION, LACOMBE LUCIEN, SCHOOL TIES, LES UNS ET LES AUTRES, DER UNHOLD, JEUX INTERDIS, and MUSIME SI POMAHAT.

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