A different coming of age story

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2007)

Most coming of age stories usually revolve around resolving a personal conflict like an unrequited first love or something as inconsequential as not making a sports team. Being an adolescent in France in 1944 presented an entirely different scenario. No matter how protected you might have been, coming of age then meant getting exposure to serious issues at a young age.
The story is that of two early-adolescent boys who have been sent to a private Catholic boarding school at some remove from heavily targeted areas. One boy, Julien, is the son of wealthy Parisians and the other, Jean, is a Jewish boy who has been taken in by Père Jean, the school's director. The good priest has taken a great risk in hiding Jean at the school, since the Nazi occupiers and French collaborators are never far off.
The film develops slowly and lulls you into thinking that not much is happening but, before you know it, you are emotionally committed.
The whole cast is excellent; the two child actors are exceptional and perfect for their roles. The film skillfully captures the awkwardness young boys have in expressing their friendship, often to the point of self-denial. But Julien and Jean do ultimately become friends.
The boys are at an age where they are feeling their way to an understanding of the world and being in the middle of WWII compounds the difficulties that all adolescents face in this. Julien hears comments about Laval, and Pètain and one kid comments that Jews and Russians are worse than the Nazis. It is difficult to resolve such conflicting opinions, even as an adult. How ill-fated it is that Julien's sudden revelation about his friend and the Nazis and the Jews resulted in unintended tragedy. Even though some of the Nazis are given a human face, by the end of the film Julien has no doubt who the bad guys are as evidenced by his physical withdrawal in the face of a young collaborator.
It is refreshing to see priests presented in a favorable light. Père Jean takes his faith seriously and, Christ-like, dies for his acts of compassion.
Malle reports that this film is somewhat autobiographical and his making the movie gives testament to how innocent acts of youth that result in unfortunate consequences can haunt you for a lifetime.