Small Change

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Small Change

PG

1976

1h 44m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Filmed in the small French city of Thiers, François Truffaut's episodic comedy-drama concerns one of the director's favorite subjects: childhood. A class clown stalls the teacher long enough to avoid answering a question, a toddler ends up on a high window ledge, a little girl announces to the neighborhood that her parents are punishing her, and the new boy in school hides his poor, abusive home life in these intertwining stories illustrating the joys and sorrows of growing up.

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

This series of sketches on the general theme of resilience of children turns out to be that rarity -- a poetic comedy that's really funny.

Dec 2, 2023

Full Review

Richard Brody

New Yorker

Truffaut's sweetly affectionate and comedic mosaic of the lives of young children in a small French town is also a vision of a new era of humane and compassionate education-and a response to his own bitter experiences as a child.

Apr 14, 2020

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Elliott Stein

Film Comment Magazine

Corny, cutesy, dull. The subtitles written by Helen Scott for Truffaut seemed awkward and illiterate.

Rated: 1/4

Apr 10, 2018

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David Dugas

United Press International

A modest little picture about children that is warmly affectionate and charming.

Aug 6, 2021

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David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

[Small Change] is a romance, a satire, a farce, a lament, and a lecture. If it seems a minor work from such stature, it is no less fetching for all that.

Aug 6, 2021

Full Review

David A. Nardozzi

Philadelphia Gay News

Small Change is an amorous recollection of childhood growth. Though certainly not destined to become a classic, it is assuredly not displeasing to view.

May 26, 2020

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Yuvraj C

Truffaut made it well before a decade of Iranian cinema. a tender story of childhood. There's a scene where a kid tells an adult joke to his pals in the ground during break he couldn't content his own laughter before telling it, what a sweet and innocent scene!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/10/23

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jaime h

One of the most Influential films of the 70s

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Poignant and humorous, Truffaut's lovingly detailed account of childhood innocence in all its wondrous complexities still retains the power to move audiences more than 40 years later. A true masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

It is a great movie. With the realistic CGI I thought it brought the animated classic to life. And I would recommend this movie to everyone of the age 6 and over

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

The children under Truffaut are always likable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

I longed for a story to contain these vignettes. The absence of any story arch means the vignettes are left to stand unsupported. Some do. Many don't.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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François Truffaut

Director

Georges Desmouceaux

Patrick

Richard Golfier

Richard

Sylvie Grezel

Sylvie

Pascale Bruchon

Martine

Chantal Mercier

Chantal

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Synopsis

Filmed in the small French city of Thiers, François Truffaut's episodic comedy-drama concerns one of the director's favorite subjects: childhood. A class clown stalls the teacher long enough to avoid answering a question, a toddler ends up on a high window ledge, a little girl announces to the neighborhood that her parents are punishing her, and the new boy in school hides his poor, abusive home life in these intertwining stories illustrating the joys and sorrows of growing up.

Director: François Truffaut
Production Co: Les Films du Carrosse, Les Productions Artistes Associés
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $38.3K
Runtime: 1h 44m

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