This film was the winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film back in 1952, and came very well-recommended. I watched it with no idea whatsoever what "forbidden games" they were referring to, and I would never have guessed until I had actually seen it.
Forbidden Games turned out to be a film about two children. First is the very cute 5-year old Paulette who lost both her parents (and her dog Jock) in an air attack while they were fleeing from Paris. She wandered off the road and was found by 10 year old Michel, who was the youngest child of a simple rural family, the Dolles. While in the care of this foster family, Paulette develops a fascination with death and crosses. And Michel does her best to keep his new young friend happy, even if it meant doing "forbidden" things, like stealing.
Director Rene Clement effectively captures the innocence of children on film with the unaffected performances of Brigitte Fossey (as Paulette) and Georges Poujouly (as Michel). The whole family feud story between the Dolles and their neighbor the Gouards was handled in a light humorous manner.
However, at the same time, I could not help but feel uncomfortable, not only with certain scenes, but maybe through the entire middle portion as Michel was doing his stealing. I also felt queasy every time I saw the dead dog Jock who seemed to have actually died on screen (or that "death quiver" the dog did on the bridge at the start was very realistically "acted").
The ending was very abrupt and uncertain. While I note this with several French films, this particular one disappointed me. This is because I felt that the climactic confrontation and bargaining scene in the barn building-up to that ending was so perfectly done.
Overall, I would not really exalt this film so much as others would (but of course, this is just me and my humble opinion.) I liked "The 400 Blows" much better. However, you may want to watch this film to witness the very natural and moving performances of the two child actors who were not aware how good they actually were. The poignant look of innocent confusion on Brigitte Fossey's face while she was sitting at the Red Cross at the end will always be in my memory.
Forbidden Games turned out to be a film about two children. First is the very cute 5-year old Paulette who lost both her parents (and her dog Jock) in an air attack while they were fleeing from Paris. She wandered off the road and was found by 10 year old Michel, who was the youngest child of a simple rural family, the Dolles. While in the care of this foster family, Paulette develops a fascination with death and crosses. And Michel does her best to keep his new young friend happy, even if it meant doing "forbidden" things, like stealing.
Director Rene Clement effectively captures the innocence of children on film with the unaffected performances of Brigitte Fossey (as Paulette) and Georges Poujouly (as Michel). The whole family feud story between the Dolles and their neighbor the Gouards was handled in a light humorous manner.
However, at the same time, I could not help but feel uncomfortable, not only with certain scenes, but maybe through the entire middle portion as Michel was doing his stealing. I also felt queasy every time I saw the dead dog Jock who seemed to have actually died on screen (or that "death quiver" the dog did on the bridge at the start was very realistically "acted").
The ending was very abrupt and uncertain. While I note this with several French films, this particular one disappointed me. This is because I felt that the climactic confrontation and bargaining scene in the barn building-up to that ending was so perfectly done.
Overall, I would not really exalt this film so much as others would (but of course, this is just me and my humble opinion.) I liked "The 400 Blows" much better. However, you may want to watch this film to witness the very natural and moving performances of the two child actors who were not aware how good they actually were. The poignant look of innocent confusion on Brigitte Fossey's face while she was sitting at the Red Cross at the end will always be in my memory.