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The Wild Child

Play trailer Poster for The Wild Child G 1970 1h 26m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A young boy (Jean-Pierre Cargol) is discovered in a forest, living a feral existence among a pack of wolves. Captured by hunters, he is sent to Paris and placed in a school for deaf-mute children. There he is observed by Dr. Itard (François Truffaut) who concludes that the boy is neither deaf nor intellectually stunted, but has simply been deprived of normal, humanizing influences. With no shortage of tenderness, patience and ambition, Itard devotes himself to educating and civilizing the boy.

Critics Reviews

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Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer The Wild Child is fascinating not only for its Tarzan-like true-life story, but also for what it says about the process of nurturing and educating children, and the tools we use -- language, discipline, affection -- to do so. Rated: 3.5/4 Feb 19, 2009 Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe Nearly four decades after its release, The Wild Child remains startling for its humane clarity, for Nestor Almendros's brilliant black-and-white photography, and for the sense that Truffaut is achieving filmmaking mastery on a very small scale. Rated: 3.5/4 Feb 5, 2009 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times An enduring film of enchanting and provocative revelation. Rated: 4.5/5 Jan 9, 2009 Full Review Kelly Vance East Bay Express Makes a heartfelt entry in Truffaut's filmography, yet another story of an unwanted kid. Aug 16, 2011 Full Review Jason Heck Kansas City Star Francois Truffaut was not only a founder of the French New Wave, he was a passionate and keen chronicler of young people, how they grew and evolved and sought purpose in a larger world. Rated: 4/4 May 1, 2009 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid A fascinating film, with an astonishing performance by young Cargol. Mar 13, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Scott R NYT 1000 list. A unique film taking on themes of education, discipline, culture, and savagery. The premise was good, but it left me wondering more after than anything and purposeless. Saw on Tubi. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/05/25 Full Review georgan g The movie itself was only 3 stars, whereas the story is 5 stars. Sociologist in me loved exploring this theme in the deaf & hearing worlds of that era. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Francisco S L'Enfant Sauvage is an excellent adaptation to the wild childs's theme, and with the help of the outstanding performances and the clever script, it is almost a masterpiece it only needed a solid end to complete this pertinent story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/16/15 Full Review Audience Member L'Enfant Sauvage is an excellent adaptation to the wild childs's theme, and with the help of the outstanding performances and the clever script, it is almost a masterpiece it only needed a solid end to complete this pertinent story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member (F) 8.1 [François Truffaut] Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member fascinating portrayal of the classic tale of a person who has missed critical junctures in development never to be made up. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Wild Child

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Cast & Crew

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François Truffaut

Director

Jean-Pierre Cargol

Victor

François Truffaut

Le Dr Jean Itard

Jean Dasté

Professor Philippe Pinel

Françoise Seigner

Madame Guerin

Annie Miller

Madame Lemeri

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The Wild Child

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Movie Info

Synopsis A young boy (Jean-Pierre Cargol) is discovered in a forest, living a feral existence among a pack of wolves. Captured by hunters, he is sent to Paris and placed in a school for deaf-mute children. There he is observed by Dr. Itard (François Truffaut) who concludes that the boy is neither deaf nor intellectually stunted, but has simply been deprived of normal, humanizing influences. With no shortage of tenderness, patience and ambition, Itard devotes himself to educating and civilizing the boy.
Director
François Truffaut
Production Co
Les Films du Carrosse, Les Productions Artistes Associés
Rating
G
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.4K
Runtime
1h 26m