Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

GamerTab That was an excellent one.

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

classicsoncall Apart from the film's being somewhat autobiographical in nature for director Louis Malle, I didn't find the story to be that compelling. It lacks dramatic tension, as events that seem to be building into a confrontation with the Nazis all seem to dissipate for one reason or another. One example would be when Julien (Gaspard Manesse) and Jean (Raphael Fejtö) accidentally encounter the German soldiers seeking their way back from the outdoor competition. They're brought back to St. John's without much fanfare. A better example might be the scene that took place in the restaurant when French Vichy authorities attempted to rid an elderly Jewish customer and a Nazi officer came to his defense! Perhaps these events actually occurred and were witnessed by a young Malle during his childhood, but they didn't seem to translate dramatically on screen. Even the classroom removal of Jean Bonnet/Kippelstein didn't engender any real fear or paranoia as I expected it would; it simply proceeded along rather matter of factly. Of course the horrific message is brought home in the closing moments when Julien recounts the eventual demise of his classmates and school principal, but because it's dealt with as an off screen event AND as a forty year old memory, the impact is not what it could have been.I don't think the film had to entice us with scenes of brutality or the horrible scourge of the Nazis to make it's point, but I couldn't help feeling that there was something significant lacking in the picture. By contrast, I would point the reader in the direction of what might be the most disturbing movie I've seen regarding the fate of young Jewish children, indeed, it might be the most disturbing movie I've seen given any subject. That would be 2008's "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", with a decidedly emotional ending that conveys an unusual twist. On a somewhat different level, there's also 2004's "Before the Fall", which examines German students in a schoolroom setting as this movie does for the French, and how those chosen to become members of the Nazi elite dealt with their unconventional status.

aaronlromano I'm writing this review primarily as a means to decompress after just finishing the film. First off, the film was beautiful, probably one of Louis Malle's most beautiful films and has just toppled "Murmur of the Heart" as my favorite Louis Malle film. The film made me weep openly and unabashedly in front of my roommates (perhaps I'd be embarrassed if they weren't also weeping)and I am weeping still as I write this. I'm too emotional to even think of anything else to say other than it is an amazing film and utterly timeless. Whether or not you are Louis Malle fan, I urge you to watch this film, it is important and very much a masterpiece.

billcr12 Goodye Children is the Engilsh translation of the title and director Louie Malle has created one of the best World War II dramas ever made. It is based on his childhood memories at a Catholic boarding school.Julien is a spoiled rich kid who is introduced to three new students, one of them, Jean, is very quiet, and his fellow classmates shun him. One night, Julien wakes up and sees Jean praying while wearing a yarmulke. It turns out that the school is hiding Jewish kids from the Nazis. The two slowly become friends, and when Julien's parents visit they bring Jean with them to a high class restaurant where German officers are dining. A patron is expelled during an ugly racist argument.A cook at the school is caught stealing food and selling it on the black market. In order to save himself he informs the Gestapo of the presence of Jewish hideaways and Jean is taken away. The priest in charge was also put in a camp by the Germans. The final part of the film is devastating and Malle has done the true story a great justice by this work.

mattrochman Despite being made in the late 1980s, this film watches very well today and is set to be a timeless classic.The production values are fair and the scripting becomes a little plain at times, though the unfolding of a friendship in a boarding school environment is sublime, highly character driven and commands your undivided attention.But more than that - this film captures an era where ordinary life was turned on its head in the shadow of German occupation. Being neither a war or holocaust film, it delves into the plight of young Jews and those of a different faith that put themselves at risk to try and save them from the Nazis.The closing 20-30 minutes of the film is remarkably moving, yet remains wholesome and understated. European cinema at its best is something to behold, providing a strong reflection on the "human" character and delivering spellbinding, raw emotional depth while maintaining story line simplicity. Au Revior Les Enfants is truly a brilliant film.