Au revoir les enfants

France

Synopsis

Louis Malle depicts a crucial experience from his own boyhood years. In the winter of 1944 eleven-year-old Julien returns from vacation to find three new boys enrolled in his Catholic boarding school. One of them, Bonnet, arouses his curiosity with his mysterious, strange ways. Julien is determined to find out his secret: Bonnet is Jewish and is living under a false name. A tender friendship grows between the two boys, but one day the bitter reality of the war and the occupation marches through their tiny and sheltered world. Bonnet, two other Jewish children and the school's principal are picked up by the Gestapo. They never return.

Director's Biography

Louis Malle was born in Thumeries in France in 1932.

Filmography:
1958 ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS
1960 ZAZIE IN THE METRO
1971 MURMUR OF THE HEART
1974 LACOMBE, LUCIEN
1980 ATLANTIC CITY
1981 MY DINNER WITH ANDRÉ
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Louis Malle

Written by: Louis Malle

Produced by: Louis Malle

Cinematography: Renato Berta

Editing: Emmanuelle Castro

Cast: Gaspard Manesse (Julien Quentin), Raphaël Fejtö (Jean Bonnet / Jean Kippelstein), Francine Racette (Mme Quentin), Philippe Morier-Genoud (Père Jean), François Negret (Joseph), Peter Fritz (Muller)

Nominations and Awards

  • Best Script 1988
  • European Film 1988
  • European Director 1988