Jeux interdits (1952)

Director:

René Clément

Writers:

Jean Aurenche (dialogue)
Jean Aurenche (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 December 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

War...and how it affects the lives of our children

Plot:

A young French girl orphaned in a Nazi air attack is befriended by the son of a poor farmer, and together they try to come to terms with the realities of death.

Plot Keywords:

Dead Dog | Famous Score | 1940s | Air Raid | Boy And Girl

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins

Cast

Georges Poujouly	...	Michel Dolle
Brigitte Fossey	...	Paulette
Amédée	...	Francis Gouard
Laurence Badie	...	Berthe Dolle
Madeleine Barbulée	...	Red Cross Nun (end of film)
Suzanne Courtal	...	Madame Dolle
Lucien Hubert	...	Dolle, the Father
Jacques Marin	...	Georges Dolle
Pierre Merovée	...	Raymond Dolle
Violette Monnier
Denise Péronne	...	Jeanne Gouard (as Denise Perronne)
Fernande Roy
Louis Saintève	...	Priest
André Wasley	...	Gouard, the Father

Also Known As:

Forbidden Games (USA)
The Secret Game

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

La Foux, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France

Company:

Silver Films

Trivia:

In a television interview ("Vivement Dimanche Prochain", France 2, 17 April 2005) Brigitte Fossey, who played the little Paulette, revealed that the film had originally been shot as a short, and then it was later decided to extend it into a feature film. Unfortunately she had lost her milk teeth and Georges Poujouly (who plays the boy Michel) had had his hair cut to play in Nous sommes tous des assassins (1952). So, in many scenes of the movie Paulette has false teeth and Michel is wearing a wig.

Goofs:

Continuity: Father Dolle drinks the same glass of wine twice, or does not pour the second glass. The level of wine in the bottle does not appear to change.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)

Adorably Good

I just saw a crappy copy of this movie, and it was still amazing despite the scratchy, shakiness of the screen. This director certainly possesses the ability to see directly from a child's perspective. The two children in this movie, Michel and little Paulette, couldn't give a s**t about anything outside their own realm. Michel lives to impress Paulette, and Paulette lives to make her dead dog less lonely. One-track minds? Yes, because this movie is about two children and their friendship. Never do Michel and Paulette submit to the pressures of responsibility or authority. The pet cemetery they slowly build throughout the movie is their passion, and no adult is going to get in their way. Anyways, my point is, this movie commits itself to portraying children in their true form. 10/10 baby.