Malle has created an extremely realistic portrayal of the relentless spirit of youth, the naive cruelties children inflict on each other, and the difficult, austere times that children -- even from wealthy f

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 1999)

Louis Malle wrote, directed, and produced this powerful recollection of his own personal experiences at a Catholic boarding school in Nazi-occupied France where the school's headmaster had chosen to admit and withhold the identities of several Jewish boys. The film primarily focuses on the relationship that develops between protagonist Francois Quentin and a new student Jean Bonnet (actually a Jewish boy whose real name is Kippelstein). Previous to Bonnet's arrival, Quentin was the class leader, both academically and influentially outside of class; now the new upstart Bonnet appears to be Quentin's academic and artistic superior. Quentin, although respectful of his new classmate's abilities, is nevertheless envious. The envy turns into healthy competition and eventually, with growing mutual respect as a result, they become friends.
Will the company having rights to this brilliant film please see that it is remastered in its original aspect ratio on DVD!