About Au Revoir Les Enfants

Au Revoir Les Enfants is a 1987 film directed by Louis Malle. The film recounts a semi-autobiographical story set in a French boarding school during World War II. The plot follows Julien Quentin, a young boy at the school, as he forms a bond with Jean Bonnet, a new student who's hiding a secret - he is a Jewish boy being concealed from the Nazi regime. The film is a detailed examination of friendship, betrayal and the emotionally devastating impacts of war.

Making / Production

Louis Malle crafted this masterpiece based on his own experiences. The film was produced by Louis Malle and distributed by Orion Classics in the United States, and by Nouvelles Éditions de Films in France. The film was shot in color and in French with English subtitles.

Actors

• Gaspard Manesse: Played the role of Julien Quentin. Manesse's performance was quietly poignant and captured the innocence of childhood amidst war.
• Raphael Fejtö: As Jean Bonnet, Fejtö portrayed the fear, courage and vulnerability of a Jewish boy hidden amidst the hostile environment.
• Francine Racette: Played the character of Julien's mother, delivering a performance marked by subtlety and emotional depth.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This film is based on actual events from director Louis Malle's own childhood.
• The school depicted in the film is the 'Petit Collège Sainte-Thérèse', where Malle was a student.
• Au Revoir Les Enfants translates to "Goodbye, Children" in English.

Awards

The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1987 and was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay.

Quotes

• "Nobody is an enemy, merely through being declared an enemy."
• "We live in times of fear and uncertainty. Courage is necessary."
• "Goodbye, Jean, I'll never forget you."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's music was composed by the prolific French composer, Philippe Sarde. The soundtrack further enhances the emotional depth of the film.
• The original soundtrack was released by EMARCY, a division of Universal Music France.