Au Revoir les Enfants
Seen it?1987 | 105 min | Drama, War
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it collected a shelf of major awards. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved The Zone of Interest or The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Harrowing.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Au revoir les enfants tells a heartbreaking story of friendship and devastating loss concerning two boys living in Nazi-occupied France. At a provincial Catholic boarding school, the precocious youths enjoy true camaraderie—until a secret is revealed. Based on events from writer-director Malle’s own childhood, the film is a subtle, precisely observed tale of courage, cowardice, and tragic awakening.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Film. Won 1 BAFTA: BAFTA Awards: Best Direction. Won 1 Venice award: Venice Film Festival: Best Foreign film. Also nominated for 2 Oscars, 1 more Golden Globe and 3 more BAFTAs. Plus 22 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$5 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 64K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Louis Malle
- Gaspard ManesseJulien Quentin
- Raphael FejtöJean Bonnet
- Francine RacetteMrs. Quentin
- Stanislas Carré de MalbergFrançois Quentin
- Philippe Morier-GenoudFather Jean
- François BerléandFather Michel
- François NégretJoseph
- Peter FitzMuller
- Pascal RivetBoulanger
- Richard LeboeufSagard