
In 1944, upper class boy Julien Quentin and his brother François travel to Catholic boarding school in the countryside after vacations. Julien is a leader and good student and when the new student Jean Bonnet arrives in the school, they have friction in their relationship. However, Julien learns to respect Jean and discovers that he is Jewish and the priests are hiding him from the Nazis. They become best friends and Julien keeps the secret. When the priest Jean discovers th... (Full plot summary below)
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In 1944, upper class boy Julien Quentin and his brother François travel to Catholic boarding school in the countryside after vacations. Julien is a leader and good student and when the new student Jean Bonnet arrives in the school, they have friction in their relationship. However, Julien learns to respect Jean and discovers that he is Jewish and the priests are hiding him from the Nazis. They become best friends and Julien keeps the secret. When the priest Jean discovers that the servant Joseph is stealing supplies from the school to sell in the black market, he fires the youth. Soon the Gestapo arrives at school to investigate the students and the priests that run and work in the boarding school.
Leave your thoughts about Au Revoir les Enfants.
| CineVueMartyn ConterioMalle builds Au Revoir Les Enfants out of small but vivid details centred on the life of the boarder, and the daily rituals and routines experienced by Julien Quentin (Gaspard Manesse) and Jean Bonnet (Raphael Fejtö). |
| Spirituality and PracticeFrederic and Mary Ann BrussatA powerful portrait of wartime France seen through the eyes of a child... The best film of director Louis Malle's distinguished career |
| Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenThe great Louis Malle based this movie on his rueful recollection of an event that happened at his childhood boarding school during WWII. |
| Filmcritic.comChristopher Nullunquestionably Malle's most personal film and arguably his most powerful |
| TIME MagazineRichard CorlissIn this frightening and beautiful film, a schoolboy must learn hard lessons early. |
| EmanuelLevy.ComEmanuel LevyOne of Louis Malle's most personal and significant films. |
| The ListTony McKibbinIt was a story that, 'kept haunting me all these years,' Malle said, and it's likely to haunt the viewer a little also. |
| Time OutTom HuddlestonAn ever-shifting balance of power is the film's greatest strength. |
| Empire MagazineDavid ParkinsonLouis Malle, possibly at his best here. The drama is subtle but affecting. |
| Little White LiesWally HammondNot the director's best work, but far, far from being his worst either. |