Tuesday, October 13, 2009

1987: Au Revoir les Enfants (Louis Malle)

Released: August 29, 1987 (Venice Film Festival)

Director: Louis Malle; Screenplay: Louise Malle; Cinematography: Renato Berta; Studio: NEF; Producer: Louis Malle

Cast: Gaspard Manesse (Julien Quentin), Raphael Fejto (Jean Bonnet/Jean Kippelstein), Françine Rocette (Mme Quentin), Stanislas Carre de Malberg (François Quentin), François Borleand (Father Michel), Philippe Morier-Genoud (Father Jean), François Negret (Joseph), Irène Jacob (Mlle Davenne)

My top two movies of 1987 share a striking similarity which I believe is the reason that both are able to be such moving films. Both take subject matter that has been utilized by countless other films – one using the Holocaust, the other the experience of the Second World War in England – that some could view as a shortcut toward garnering an emotional response. After all, there is no denying that the “good war” image of World War II or the obvious evilness of the Holocaust automatically creates an emotional charge in an audience. Many lesser films have used this pre-packaged passion and simply gone through the motions in producing their final product. Neither Au Revoir les Enfants or Hope and Glory comes close to doing this. Instead, they do something that is simple yet at the same time brilliant: they tell basic stories that have been recounted numerous times before, but do so through the eyes of children.

I’m in no way claiming that this is a storytelling device that either Louis Malle or John Boorman magically created, it’s been done before. But what makes it so effective in both of their films is the way they do it. Both visually tell the story as a child would see it, but do it with absolute sincerity. It may be the viewpoint of an adolescent that is being shown, but there is nothing sugarcoated about it. Even accounting for the quirks and misunderstanding to be expected from children, the story is told almost matter-of-factly – whether that means comedy, heartache, fear, whatever it may be. We are able to watch a child try and survive and respond to the same situations that adults are expected to handle and the “entertainment” (I hesitate to use the word considering the subject matter, but I think it still fits) comes with seeing how a child copes with such shocking situations.

By looking at the title of this post, it’s obvious which of the two I chose in what was an extremely difficult decision. I hadn’t actually seen Boorman’s Hope and Glory until a few months ago when I watched it after seeing Sam taut it at WitD as being among the finest of the decade. He was right, of course, and I’ve since picked up a copy to have it in my collection. Still, there remains something about this Malle film that has haunted me since the first time I watched it. It sticks in the back of your mind the way that I suppose other excellent movies covering such topics should. I can still picture the final frames of the film, shot for shot, in my mind.


The story is apparently based on the personal experiences of a 12-year old Malle while he attended a Catholic boarding school in Nazi-occupied France. How much is an accurate accounting of his real-life experiences and how much is added to the screenplay I can’t say, but it’s unimportant. In film, the main character is Julien Quentin (Gaspard Manesse), a “momma’s boy” who despises being sent to the school. When he and his older brother return to the school after Christmas break, three new students are enrolled with them. The audience is soon made aware of an explosive secret: the three new students are Jews who under false names are being hidden from the Nazis by posing as Catholic schoolboys. One of the boys, Jean Bonnet (Raphael Feito), quickly develops a rivalry with Julien that is squashed as the two slowly become close friends. But Julien is smart enough to realize that there is something mysterious about his new pal – things such as his refusal to eat pork and his sitting up late at night and praying in Hebrew. Julien then begins snooping around to discover what exactly the answer is. While ransacking Jean Bonnet’s belongs, he uncovers the explosive secret: Jean Bonnet’s real name is Kippelstein and that he is in a fact a Jew being hidden among them.

While the friendship between the two boys grows closer, things predictably take a turn for the worse. A market for black-market school supplies is discovered, implicating numerous students and an employee of the school. The employee, a young cook named Joseph (Francois Negret), is fired and vows to get even. Aware of the secret of the priests hiding the Jewish students, Joseph alerts the Gestapo. When the soldiers descend upon the school, they begin going room to room looking for the boys. In the coming paragraphs there may be slight spoilers, but I don’t intend to give it all away for those that haven’t yet had the opportunity to see it.

I know that I keep returning to the fact that it is a kid telling the story, but it’s the most striking aspect of the film for me. Julien is obviously a bright boy, and while he might not understand the reasoning for what is happening, he is fully aware of what is at stake. Julien may not immediately know the difference between his family and his friend who is labeled a “Jew,” but he knows enough to keep that information hidden from everyone, even his own mother. And yet, even with this realization, it’s amazing to watch how he and his new friend are able to carry on with such childish pursuits. They can still enjoy games of capture the flag or sneaking into an abandoned room to goof around the piano. I don’t know how to sum up the profoundness of such sequences, but there is something to be said for the ability of a child to grasp the enormity of a situation while at the same time carrying on as if they maintain their innocence.


The immediacy of the Holocaust is also really driven home by the relationship between Julien and Jean Bonnet. The personal dimension of it all is on display. This is exemplified by the stunning conclusion. When we see Julien watching as his friend is being led out of the school by the Gestapo and observe the sadness from Julien, it reveals (at least to me) a key point that is often overshadowed by the sheer enormity of the Holocaust. When Julien is near tears and waving goodbye to Jean Bonnet, he is not saddened by thoughts of the horridness of the acts being committed against Jews as a whole. He is distraught because he is losing a friend. It’s that simple. The tears are flowing because he realizes his friend probably isn’t ever coming back.

Rating: 9/10


Other Contenders for 1987: This actually an outstanding year, I think. No “perfect 10s” but so many excellent movies that I love to re-watch. My close runner-up has already been discussed. John Boorman’s Hope and Glory is great and also boasts a conclusion that is almost unmatched – but in a very different manner than in Au Revoir. I’ve brought it far too many times at Wonders in the Dark, but the “Thank you, Adolf!” line is one of the best in cinema.

When I first made a preliminary list of selections by each year, my original choice for this year was actually Woody Allen’s Radio Days. For whatever reason I obviously backed off that choice, but it remains one of my top three favorite Woody movies and is another excellent example of a child being the driving force of a film. My other favorites would be: The Last Emperor (Bernardo Bertolucci), Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick) Angel Heart (Alan Parker), Matewan (John Sayles), House of Games (David Mamet), and The Dead (John Huston). I haven’t had the opportunity to yet see Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire but I look forward to seeing it when the Criterion DVD is released in November.

9 comments:

  1. Argh, I don't know why I keep postponing this movie. I guess your opinion is shared by many many people. Will see it soon...

    My Favorites:

    Babette's Feast (1987)
    The Cyclist (Makhmalbaf)
    Slave Coast (Herzog)
    Wings Of Desire (Wenders) - One Of My All Time Favorites
    Intervista (Fellini)
    Damnation (Tarr)
    Where Is The Friend's House? (Kiarostami)
    King Lear (Godard)
    Blind Chance (Kieslowski)
    Full Metal Jacket (Kubrick)
    Radio Days (Allen)
    September (Allen)
    The Living Daylights (Glen)
    The Untouchables (De Palma)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Definitely check it out. It's one of those films that is quite sad, but also manages to make you feel good at times as well. Just a beautifully made movie.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dave, it occurs to me that adding Spielberg's Empire of the Sun to your pair makes for a 1987 trilogy of war-through-children's-eyes films, and all three movies make my own list of favorites for this year. Topping my own list is Full Metal Jacket, less a Vietnam film than a darkly hilarious satire on a militarsm that stunts maturity instead of turning boys into men. But here's an actual list.

    1. Full Metal Jacket
    2. Hope and Glory
    3. The Last Emperor
    4. Empire of the Sun
    5. Wings of Desire
    6. The Dead
    7. Au Revoir les Enfants
    8. Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn (Sam Raimi)
    9. Robocop (Paul Verhoeven)
    10.Matewan

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dave, thanks for the shout out on the Boorman. Your choice is a superlative one, and it surely ranks among the best of this year. I guess it depends on what day of the week you ask me as far as 1987 goes. It's perhaps the finest year of the decade. Only 1989 competes in my view. As it's too tough to choose between EMPIRE OF THE SUN and HOPE AND GLORY I will declare a tie.

    My #1 Film of 1987:

    Empire of the Sun (Spielberg)
    Hope and Glory (Boorman)

    Runners-Up:

    Little Dorrit (Ezuard; UK)
    Camp de Thiaroye (Sembene; Kenya)
    Yeelen (Souleylmane Cisse; Mali)
    Au Revoir Les Enfants (Malle; France)
    Dust in the Wind (Hsiao-Hsien; Taiwan)
    The Cyclist (Makhmalbaf; Iran)
    The Dead (Huston; UK/Ireland)
    The Last Emperor (Bertolucci; Italy)
    Babette's Feast (Axel; Denmark)
    Housekeeping (Forsythe; UK)
    The Pathfinder (Gaup; Norway)
    Where's My Friend's House? (Kiarostami; Iran)
    Rouge (Kwan; Hong Kong)
    Damnation (Tarr; Hungary)
    Full Metal Jacket (Kubrick; USA/UK)
    Pelle the Conqueror (August; Denmark)
    House of Games (Mamet; USA)
    Matewan (Sayles; USA)
    Belly of an Architect (Greenaway; UK)
    Sammie and Rosie Get Laid (Frears; UK)

    ReplyDelete
  5. A great choice and yet another great review, Dave. Must admit I'm not such a big fan of 'Hope and Glory', as I found Ian Bannen's performance somewhat over the top, but I still found it well worth watching.

    My own favourites from 1987, with something of a bias to UK and historical drama, are, in alphabetical order:

    A Month in the Country
    Au Revoir Les Enfants
    Broadcast News
    Maurice
    Wings of Desire
    Wish You Were Here

    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't quite understand how I left out Merchant/Ivory's MAURICE (which actually made my Top 25 of the entire decade) but Judy just reminded me of that major mistake.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dave,
    a wonderful choice, an emotional film and one of your finest pieces.. Alas I am going with Empire of the Sun which I still think stands as Spielberg's best work. In no particular order below are the rest.

    Radio Days
    Hope and Glory
    The Last Emperor
    Raising Arizona
    Full Metal Jacket
    The Untouchables
    Wall Street
    House of Games
    Au Revoir les Enfants

    ReplyDelete
  8. Excellent choices all the way around. I wouldn't say that I'm surprised, but it's nice to see how much love is being shown to HOPE AND GLORY -- with the exception of Judy! :) I'm kidding, Judy, and with my lack of knowledge on a lot of British cinema, you've brought up some titles that I need to check out.

    And I love seeing someone other than me rating RADIO DAYS this high. I think it's a great, great Woody film. On my own very biased ratings, I would place it behind only Crimes and Misdemeanors and Hannah and Her Sisters.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Quay Brother's bizarre and mesmerizing short film The Street of Crocodiles would be my own pick for 1987.

    ReplyDelete