Au Revoir, les enfants

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Au Revoir, les enfants

PG

Released Oct 7, 1987

1h 44m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 1943, Julien (Gaspard Manesse) is a student at a French boarding school. When three new students arrive, including Jean Bonnett (Raphael Fejto), Julien believes they are no different from the other boys. What Julien doesn't know is that the boys are actually Jews who are evading capture by the Nazis. While Julien doesn't care for Jean at first, the boys develop a tight bond -- while the head of the school, Père Jean (Philippe Morier-Genoud), works to protect the boys from the Holocaust.

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Critics Consensus

Louis Malle's autobiographical tale of a childhood spent in a WWII boarding school is a beautifully realized portrait of friendship and youth.

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Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Herald Examiner

Because his subject -- an eleven-year-old boy’s recognition of the horrors of the adult world -- is such a resonant one, the final effect of his bracing, unencumbered directness is overwhelming. Rarely have audiences’ tears been more honestly wrung.

Aug 9, 2022

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

Without being sentimental, the drama is incredibly moving as the muted light plays over young faces that are about to face the unknowable evils of the adult world.

Dec 31, 2017

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Wally Hammond

Little White Lies

Not the director's best work, but far, far from being his worst either.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 29, 2015

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

This autobiographical film is unquestionably Malle’s most personal project and its story is taken from actual events of his childhood. He wrote, produced, and directed this stirring film that grounds its storytelling in authenticity and in earned emotion.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

A valiant, challenging, and extremely personal film… a masterful work. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 29, 2022

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Allen Almachar

The MacGuffin

The powerfully moving WWII story of two friends whose innocence is taken away because of the actions of evil men.

Aug 10, 2020

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Dave S

Louis Malle's Au Revoir les Enfants, a tale of compassion and altruism in the face of abject evil, is the story of a young Jewish boy being sheltered from the Gestapo in a French boarding school for boys during WW2. Written by Malle based on his own experiences as a child, the movie takes its time unravelling the identity of young Jean Bonnett (Raphael Fejto), building suspense subtly and ultimately leading to its devastating final scene. Over his remarkable career, Malle made a handful of great films and while Au Revoir les Enfants may not be the best offering in his considerable oeuvre, it is certainly one of the most impactful and memorable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

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Audience Member

Even though the story was heartfelt and true this isn't a film I would have looked for myself. On one hand I found it overly long and outdrawn, sentimental and dull. The message and history behind the movie may have been captivating on some level but its just not my cup of tea. History bound to repeat as it often does is a terrible thought. Id much rather focus on a less dire subject.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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william d

There are some good dramatic moments at the end, but it couldn't compensate for the boredom I felt up until that point.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

An absolutely stunning piece of work. Au revoir les enfants will move just about anyone with a beating heart.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Really touching and tragic autobiographical film from Louis Malle. Very well-acted film about the goings-on of a private Catholic school in Fascist France. Beautifully shot and well-scripted as well. The ending of the film is what really stands out as the viewer hopes that the film will end on a positive note only to be heartbroken by the ending where the titular phrase is said. Only problems I had with the film was that some parts of it dragged on especially the wood scene but other than that Au Revoir, Les Enfants is a very touching and moving film. I was surprised that it was nominated but did not win Best Foreign Language Film so I hope to watch the Danish film that did win in the future. I also thought it deserved to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay as opposed to the other nominees, Radio Days, Broadcast News and, the winning film, Moonstruck (haven't seen Hope and Glory).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Isaiah Y

Louis Malle's magnum opus

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/12/21

Full Review

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Louis Malle

Director

Gaspard Manesse

Julien Quentin

Raphael Fejto

Jean Bonnet

Francine Racette

Mme. Quentin

Stanislas Carré de Malberg

Francois Quentin

Philippe Morier-Genoud

Père Jean

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Synopsis

In 1943, Julien (Gaspard Manesse) is a student at a French boarding school. When three new students arrive, including Jean Bonnett (Raphael Fejto), Julien believes they are no different from the other boys. What Julien doesn't know is that the boys are actually Jews who are evading capture by the Nazis. While Julien doesn't care for Jean at first, the boys develop a tight bond -- while the head of the school, Père Jean (Philippe Morier-Genoud), works to protect the boys from the Holocaust.

Director: Louis Malle
Screenwriter: Louis Malle
Production Co: Stella Film, MK2 Productions, Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF), NEF Filmproduktion
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround

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