In 1940, the five years old Paulette (Brigitte Fossey) loses her parents and her dog under a Nazi attack in the country while escaping from Paris. The eleven years old peasant Michel Dolle (Georges Poujouly) sees the girl wandering with her dead dog in her hands and brings her to his home. She is welcomed and lodged by his simple family and she becomes a close friend of Michel. They bury her dog and decide to build a cemetery for animals and insects, stealing crosses in the cemetery, bringing problems to Michel's family with their neighbors.
This masterpiece is one of the most heartbreaking and realistic anti-war movies I have ever seen. The morbid effects of the war, death and religion twisting the minds of two innocent children is amazingly exposed under the direction of the brilliant René Clément and a magnificent screenplay. Working with the talented six years old Brigitte Fossey in the lead role with the twelve years old Georges Poujouly, Clément is able to achieve awesome performances of these children in very dramatic situations. This touching story is never corny and the open conclusion is extremely sad and pessimist. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): "Brinquedo Proibido" ("Forbidden Toy")
This masterpiece is one of the most heartbreaking and realistic anti-war movies I have ever seen. The morbid effects of the war, death and religion twisting the minds of two innocent children is amazingly exposed under the direction of the brilliant René Clément and a magnificent screenplay. Working with the talented six years old Brigitte Fossey in the lead role with the twelve years old Georges Poujouly, Clément is able to achieve awesome performances of these children in very dramatic situations. This touching story is never corny and the open conclusion is extremely sad and pessimist. My vote is ten.
Title (Brazil): "Brinquedo Proibido" ("Forbidden Toy")