Au revoir les enfants (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

an all-time favorite

Au revoir les EnfantsDirected by Louis MalleStarring Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö and Francine RacetteCriterion | 1987 | 104 min | Rated PG | Released Mar 15, 2011Video:Video codec: MPEG-4 AVCVideo resolution: 1080pAspect ratio: 1.66:1Audio:French: LPCM MonoSubtitles:EnglishDisc:Single 50GB Blu-ray DiscAu revoir les Enfants is a semi-autobiographical story from director Louis Malle who was born in 1932 and lived through many of the events depicted on the screen. Because it's based on the truth, it has added meaning for the viewer. It's about school, friendship, racism and regret.The story begins with a 15-year-old boy, Julien Quentin (Manesse), leaving his mother and taking the train to a Catholic boarding school. The school is run by monks and all of the students are boys. It's set in the 1940s during the German occupation of France. A new boy, Jean Bonnet (Fejtö), takes the bed next to Quentin.Most of the students tease Bonnet and make his life a misery. As you have probably experienced, this is typical treatment for a new student in any school. In addition to the teasing, he finds that the water is cold, baths have to be taken in the local town, and air raids disrupt the lessons. Bonnet's life becomes more tolerable when a monk tells Quentin to befriend him without explaining why. After a while, Bonnet's ability in a wide range of school subjects such as music, math and French, earns Quentin's respect. The two become friends.The portrayal of school life is realistic and reminds me somewhat of The 400 Blows. It gradually becomes clear that Bonnet has a secret. He claims to be a protestant and mentions that his father is a prisoner. Quentin searches Bonnet's locker and uncovers the secret, but he's not completely aware of its significance at the time.When his mother visits, Quentin persuades her to include Bonnet on a trip to a local restaurant. She likes him although he doesn't say much. While they are eating, we are shown a group of collaborators harassing a Jewish man who simply wants to have dinner. Jews are not allowed in the restaurant. Quentin is puzzled by this treatment and isn't even sure what a Jew is and why they should be hated.Quentin matures throughout the film and his awareness of events happening in his life increases. It's a coming-of-age tale of sorts, and the seemingly innocent existence of the students is overshadowed by something more sinister.This sad tale will emotionally affect viewers who allow themselves to be drawn into the story. I can only imagine what Malle must have gone through in order to make it. Perhaps it was his way of confessing?I don't want to reveal anything more as it might ruin the experience for anyone yet to see it.Actress Irène Jacob made her film debut in the role of a piano teacher which ultimately led to her being noticed by director Krzysztof Kieslowski. As a result, he cast her in The Double Life of Veronique and Three Colors Red. Both films are essential viewing for film fans who enjoy stories encouraging thought and speculation.Video Quality 4/5Criterion's transfer is strong and has plenty of detail without ruining the intended look of the film. Instances of dirt, debris and scratches are kept to a minimum. The colors are particularly impressive despite the muted setting.Audio Quality 4.5/5This is a quiet film for the most part and the French LPCM 1.0 presentation is clear throughout. The subtitles for the French dialogue are properly paced and easy to follow, while any German spoken in the film is not supposed to be understood and is not subtitled.Special Features 4/5Pierre Billard - Film critic and author of Malle's biography talks about Malle's career (31 minutes, 1080i)Candice Bergen - Malle's wife for 15 years talks about his life and passion for film (14 minutes, 1080i)Charlie Chaplin's The Immigrant - Talks about the reason for its appearance in the film (26 minutes, 1080i)Louis Malle at AFI - Audio only speech (in English) from Malle's 1988 appearance at the AFI (53 minutes)Trailers (3 minutes, 1080i)22-page bookletOne of the best films of the 80s gets the Criterion Blu-ray treatment and the results are stunning. Buy it if you like emotional dramas.Overall score 4.5/5

French director Louis Malle made in this one, in my opinion, his greatest work.Briefly -and mainly- this is the story of two kids in a catholic school during the German occupation of France.As always, different critics will pick up those themes that most interest him. To me this was a film abouta) Childhood cruelty,b) Coming of agec) Social classes (as noted from the environment of a school)d) and religionNot in any particular order but all very interrelated. Also, I'd like to point out some interesting notes that caught my eye: the education environment. The relation between kids themselves, and the kids and their teachers. I was specially interested (because of the contrast with today's US) in the quality of education that was taught in France, in the spirit of discipline, respect, hard word... the underlining importance -as usual in French films- of books. Sure the French kids could be as "naughty" as US kids, but at least they would read Jules Verne or Arabian Nights. What do US kids read? That's right, nothing. They don't know Melville, Steinbeck, Jack London, Robert L. Stevenson. In US public schools kids don't read anything. They have the maid-teachers read for them. They still write on lined paper in college because they wouldn't be able to write straight (!!).A work of art, even more because it is not an easy-to-tell story, this one. And time practically flies while watching it. I suggest showing it to your nearest specimen of teenager. If he stands the whole movie, he is probably a happy private school kid or a miserable public shool underachiever. If he stands ten minutes only, he can still live to be a senator or even President. If he runs away at the beginning he is probably a "normal" kid. (And, unfortunately, the same applies to their parents).A wonderful film.

Au Revoir les Enfants (Goodbye, Children) is a French film of profound sadness. The story is about Julien Quentin, a young French boy who must attend school in the countryside because Paris is not safe due to WWII. The opening scene with Julien saying goodbye to his mother says a lot about Julien's character. He can be mean yet at the same time, he shows incredible love and friendship to those dearest to him. While at the school, he meets Jean Bonnet, a mysterious boy who Julien cannot help but be curious about.The title of the film says much about the themes present. As the film progresses, 12-year-old Julien learns about the tragic things in life. Unlike most other boys his age, the events surrounding the film cause him to grow up earlier than he is comfortable with. Childhood is an incredibly fleeting thing and to many of the characters in the film, it is even more so.The strongest part of the film was the acting by Gaspard Manesse (Julien) and Raphael Fejtö (Bonnet). Julien initially takes a dislike to Bonnet, but they begin spending more time with one another, learning that despite differences in each other, they are able to get along and form a friendship that touches both of their hearts. A tragic yet innocent mistake late in the film leads to a heart wrenching and unforgettable ending.Au Revoir les Enfants is one of the best films I've seen. It is intelligent and deep in its message. For me, the message is that war affects children unnecessarily and cruelly. Like the title implies, children are forced to grow up too quickly because of war. I do not know about other viewers but for me, childhood was a happy yet brief time. For children affected by war and violence, it is even shorter, and this film perfectly embodies the tragic consequences that follow. I cannot recommend a film more intensely than this. See and judge it for yourself.

An essential film

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Das 1987 entstandene 2. Welkrieg-Drama "Auf Wiedersehen Kinder" von Louis Malle wurde bei seinem Erscheinen mit Preisen überhäuft. Es gab 7 Cesars (Film, Regie, Drehbuch, Kamera, Ausstattung, Ton, Schnitt), den golden Löwen von Venedig, den Europäischen Filmpreis für das beste Drehbuch, viele weitere Preise und jeweils eine Nominierung für den Oscar und den Golden Globe als bester ausländischer Film. Tatsächlich hat Louis Malle mit diesem ergreifenden Film ein Meisterwerk geschaffen, dass zu den besten und glaubwürdigsten seiner Gattung zählt.Der Regisseur hat in diesem Film eigene Erlebnisse und Erinnerungen verarbeitet. Dabei setzte er auf eine eher unspektakuläre Machart. Malle gab in einem Interview an "1944 ist vergangen. Doch ich weiß, dass ein Jugendlicher von Heute meine Gefühle von damals teilen kann. Denn Ungerechtigkeit und Rassismus sind nicht verschwunden".Es ist ein trauriger Film, ein Abgesang der Unschuld und ein Film über den Abschied. Am Anfang verabschiedet sich der elfjährige Julien (Gaspard Manesse) am Bahnhof von seiner Mutter (Francine Racette). Er möchte nicht ins Karmelitergymnasium im Wald von Fontainebleau. Doch sein größerer Bruder Francois (Stanislas Carre de Malberg) macht sich über das Anlehnen an die Mutter ein bisschen lustig und so steigt der Junge ein in den Zug. Es ist Winter 1944 und es ist Weltkrieg. Die verwöhnten Kinder der Pariser Bourgeoisie sind auf dem Land viel sicherer und die Erziehung der Padres Jean (Philippe Mourier-Genoud) oder Pater Michel (Francois Berleand) ist streng. Am Ende wird Julien auch von Pater Jean und drei Jungen Abschied nehmen müssen. Der Pater ruft den Kindern noch einen letzten Gruß zu "Auf Wiedersehen Kinder, bis bald" und wird von der Gestapo abgeführt. Der Pater weiß, dass es kein Wiedersehen geben wird. Denn er und die 3 Jungen werden die Qualen des KZs nicht überleben. Juliens letztes Winken wirkt auch sehr hoffnungslos....der Junge ahnt, dass mit den Menschen, die abgeführt werden, schlimmes passieren wird. Darunter ist auch sein Freund Jean Bonnet (Raphael Feito).Dieser wurde als neuer Mitschüler vorgestellt. Die Aufmerksamkeit von Julien hatte der Neue sofort.Denn Jean Bonnet war zuerst mal eher ein Ärgernis für Julien. Er schrieb bessere Noten, er spielte im Klavierunterricht viel besser - die Rolle von Julien als Klassenprimus war plötzlich gefährdet. Zuerst ärgert er den Neuen und sie prügeln sich auch. Doch irgendwann werden die beiden Freunde.Das Leben im Internat ist nicht einfach. Die Lebensmittel, die die Eltern schicken, sollen mit den Anderen geteilt werden. Es gibt nicht immer warmes Wasser und so blüht auch das Tauschgeschäft untereinander. Wer Zigaretten oder Aktphotos will, der muss die gute Marmelade von Mutter opfern. Immer mehr kommt auch Julien dem Geheimnis seines Freundes auf die Spur, denn er ist anders als die anderen. Er hat keine Eltern, die ihm schreiben oder ihn mal besuchen. Er spricht nachts bei kerzenlicht fremdartige Gebete. Julien schnüffelt beharrlich und findet heraus, dass Jean nicht Bonnet sondern Kippelstein heißt. Ein jüdischer Junge. Die Padres lassen verfolgte Judenkinder in ihrer Schule untertauchen. Tatsächlich wird der Tauschhandel zum großen Stolperstein für das Versteck von Jean und zwei weiteren jüdischen Jungs. Der Küchenjunge Joseph (Francois Negret) wird beim Diebstahl erwischt und entlassen. Aus Rache verrät er die Padres an die Deutschen...Und dieser Joseph erinnert durch seine Reaktion auf die Entlassung auch an "Lacombe Lucien", den jungen Kollaborateur aus Malles gleichnamigen Film aus dem Jahr 1973.Louis Malle gelingt das seltene Kunststück in seinem 104 minuten langen Meisterstück keine Sentimentalitäten zuzulassen. Alles läuft präzise ohne inhaltliche Klischees ab. Er lässt ausschließlich die Erlebnisse der Kinder für sich sprechen und schafft dadurch größte Intensität und gleichzeitig einen zeitlosen Klassiker des französischen Films. Die beiden noch sehr jungen Hautpdarsteller beeindrucken durch ihre Unverstelltheit und Natürlichkeit. Bei der US-Premiere des Films auf dem Telluride Film Festival brach Malle in Tränen aus, so große seelische Schmerzen verursachten ihm seine über 40 Jahre zurückliegenden Kindheitserinnerungen.

Order fulfilled as expected.

Cassette en bon état mais pas cependant comme neuve. Boitier ayant un peu vécu. Mais échange avec le vendeur très cordial. A informé sur la date d'envoi de la cassette et a demandé confirmation pour la réception.Bonne qualité de vente.