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Au revoir les enfants
Au revoir les enfants
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Au revoir les enfants

Au revoir les enfants

1987
Drama, War
1h 44m
A French boarding school run by priests seems to be a haven from World War II until a new student arrives... (imdb)

Directed by:

Louis Malle

Screenwriter:

Louis Malle

Starring:

François Berléand, Philippe Morier-Genoud, Peter Fitz, Irène Jacob, Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö, Francine Racette, Stanislas Carré de Malberg, François Négret, Pascal Rivet, Benoît Henriet, Richard Leboeuf

Genres:

Drama, War

AKA:

Goodbye, Children

Countries:

France, West Germany

Languages:

English, French, Latin, German, Greek
imdb IMDb
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Au revoir les enfants

1987
Drama, War
1h 44m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 72.6% from 1264 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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paxtonPaxton
Rated 11 May 2016
80
77th
A very strange precursor to The Devil's Backbone. Where are the damn ghosts?
Rated 11 May 2016
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 13 Dec 2008
4
70th
A powerfully affecting film that slowly and gradually builds up to an ending that hits like a ton of bricks. One of the most accurate portrayals of adolescence ever captured, with a style as graceful and subtle as I've come to expect from Malle. His sense of composition is unmatched - the depth in his shots is really impressive.
Rated 13 Dec 2008
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 03 Aug 2009
92
97th
Despite some heavy themes Malle manages to keep things low key, keeping the film grounded in the mixed emotions of adolescence. It's a very effective strategy, drawing the viewer into the daily grind and light problems of the lead characters while keeping the heavy war setting as a strong yet seemingly distant backdrop.
Rated 03 Aug 2009
cclzaCCLZA
Rated 16 Apr 2008
90
95th
Subtle, simple and exquisitely shot. Malle proves that simplicity can be as emotionally powerful as those big, epic, grand and "serious" dramas in the vibe of Schindler's List.
Rated 16 Apr 2008
doyler29doyler29
Rated 25 Oct 2022
100
96th
I think it's a masterpiece. It's not populated by good guys and bad guys. Some people do very good things, some very bad. The people who do bad things do them out of fear, selfishness or, in some cases, commitment to ideology. The richness of human motives is here, and it really illustrates how little it can take to irrevocably change lives.
Rated 25 Oct 2022
feublofeublo
Rated 15 Mar 2021
90
90th
One of the most wonderful youth archetypes that concerns occupied France and it's political conflicts. An intimate lens that further embraces this autobiographical story Malle tells so beautifully.
Rated 15 Mar 2021
anilscnanilscn
Rated 30 Jun 2018
50
48th
Okula bak. Çocukların yaşları 14 ama kahkaha sayısı sıfır. Sanatsal filmlerin yönetmenlerinin en büyük sıkıntısı bu çocukları kendi kafa yapısında sanmaları. Uzaklara bakıp iç geçiren 14 yaşında çocuk mu olur ya.
Rated 30 Jun 2018
iconogassediconogassed
Rated 13 Aug 2014
90
89th
Malle knows that to fully salvage sentiment one must convey a sense of discovery, of innate truths furnished anew, and this is one of the best films ever made about both the restless dialectic of discovery and the development of moral codes in a minefield. How are young men to respect the cloth when they see the ease with which passing soldiers use it soak up blood? When its wearers cut themselves first, of course.
Rated 13 Aug 2014
kmcneilKMcNeil
Rated 31 Jan 2014
9
94th
Terse and minimalist, but also with an unmistakably warm, humanist heart beating just under the surface. Whereas Bresson would have made this into an indictment of mankind (and probably crafted an equally masterful treatise), in Malle's hands it is instead an ode to our capacity for compassion. Some of the best acting by a group of children ever.
Rated 31 Jan 2014
nilooravaeinilooravaei
Rated 24 Dec 2013
98
98th
a simple, beautiful film. it feels effortless, like a real window in someone's actual life, but is so meticulously structured. not a word or image is out of place or wasted. the plot develops so subtly and reaches a poignant and heart-wrenching climax. it transcends culture and genre, and operates at a universal level, revealing truths about humanity with simplicity, beauty and elegance.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
jonnykungfujonnykungfu
Rated 28 Aug 2011
75
66th
Even though it combines two things I'm iffy about in film, Nazis and coming-of-age, I actually found myself enjoying this film quite a bit. It doesn't overplay its hand, never becomes too sentimental or preachy, and is very nice to look at in a non-showy way. The world of the film feels very well-realized and real.
Rated 28 Aug 2011
eveeluneveelun
Rated 14 Aug 2007
83
88th
As tired as I am of European features about WWII, this is a fresh and honest approach that doesn't sugarcoat the situation or make it excessively melodramatic. The children are very sympathetic, and even the film's "villain" acts in a way that is understandable.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 28 Aug 2023
7
58th
As a director, Malle is very apt at putting together scenes that ring with authenticity and nuance. Yet, the backdrop against which the story unfolds felt almost subsidiary to the actual conflict and tension that existed between the two main characters, beautifully and convincingly played by both actors. I was surprised to find out that both of them almost never acted again after this film.
Rated 28 Aug 2023
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 19 Aug 2023
91
92nd
A rich, measured, and delicate WWII film with remarkable child performances. Something of a subtle masterpiece.
Rated 19 Aug 2023
heynicefilmHeyNiceFilm
Rated 18 Jun 2023
87
74th
I prefer 400 Blows, but if you are a fan of one you'll like the other. Love this view into the France of yesteryear. I am usually not a fan of 'slow burn' films but something about these characters kept me watching. Bravo Malle. It's simple, subtle, and understated. I have a soft spot for coming-of-age films as well, and what time to grow up than in the grim shadow of WWII nazi-occupied France.
Rated 18 Jun 2023
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 13 Jan 2023
83
81st
A very well done, sensitive portrait of two boys at a religious boarding school during World War 2. It's perfectly paced and I was struck by how authentic the interactions between the kids were, both positive interactions and negative ones. Most movies don't get this right at all, but this all felt perfect.
Rated 13 Jan 2023
timon88Timon88
Rated 22 Aug 2022
82
85th
I don't love this like so many others seem to-- it's easily my least favorite of the "great" Malle films. I generally don't have much use for movies about pre-adolescents (even one as well-made and skillfully directed as this), but it's more than that. Pauline Kael, naturally, nails it: "But nothing comes into clear focus--not the boys' attitudes, not even the images. The film (especially the first half) seems padded, formal, discreet. It's like watching a faded French classic."
Rated 22 Aug 2022
vialov3sgyuvia_lov3sgyu
Rated 10 May 2022
100
70th
omg. cute. niche (i guess). and FRENCH. perfection
Rated 10 May 2022
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
70
45th
8?
Rated 06 Aug 2021
mandymandy
Rated 08 Jun 2021
8
92nd
Poignant and surprising gentle.
Rated 08 Jun 2021
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 18 Mar 2021
60
32nd
For most of the runtime, the looming war made it hard to appreciate the depiction of everyday school life, but the privileged setting didn't make it a very sympathetic war film either. The color design here reminded me of a late-era Melville film at times. The same cool muted elegance applied here to depict the loss of the warmth of childhood innocence.
Rated 18 Mar 2021
braddad68braddad68
Rated 27 Jan 2020
100
97th
Great movie! I'm so glad I finally watched it.
Rated 27 Jan 2020
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 27 Oct 2019
100
99th
Père Jean: "Goodbye, children. I'll see you soon."
Rated 27 Oct 2019
evilmangoesEvilMangoes
Rated 05 Mar 2019
93
78th
A-
Rated 05 Mar 2019
neonmanNeonman
Rated 24 Nov 2018
68
32nd
Spends a breezy amount of time on the location and its characters before it gradually slams through with the heart-breaking denouement. Although it's involving in this regard, the characters themselves don't quite connect -- the emerging friendship between the two young boys doesn't quite ring as organic, even if the scenes that are supposed to be establishing that are rather compelling.
Rated 24 Nov 2018
auhasarderikauhasarderik
Rated 24 Aug 2018
10
99th
It plays very simple, its place and characters are perfectly observed and rendered, moves like a breeze, and the final effect is emotionally devastating. Designed for maximum impact, and yet doesn't show it. An expert's movie. Special indeed.
Rated 24 Aug 2018
tarwebroodtarwebrood
Rated 11 May 2018
64
35th
2018-05-10 convincing, but hoped for more.
Rated 11 May 2018
marazimarazi
Rated 01 Sep 2017
85
75th
harika :( bilahare tekrar izlensin.
Rated 01 Sep 2017
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 01 Oct 2016
80
79th
A subtle WW2 movie, with a sad ending. It's a bit slow, but not tedious at all. Has good acting too.
Rated 01 Oct 2016
caimancaiman
Rated 17 May 2016
74
46th
A subdued story that relies on the underlying facts - not on explicit emotional expression - to garner a response. I appreciate that its focus is on the naive children, unaware of the current shitstorm happening around them. But on the other hand, it also left me just a bit cold. I had a bit of a "that's it?" moment when the credits rolled. It's a movie that's grown on me the more I think about it.
Rated 17 May 2016
julie_rubioJulie Rubio
Rated 24 Nov 2014
94
53rd
Père Jean: Everyone has dark thoughts. Julien Quentin: Even you? Père Jean: Even me.
Rated 24 Nov 2014
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 05 Oct 2014
68
70th
Intelligent and does well to largely avoid its subject's many trappings, but most scenes are rather slight.
Rated 05 Oct 2014
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 17 Aug 2014
69
78th
glm01glm01
Rated 19 Sep 2013
88
95th
88.000
Rated 19 Sep 2013
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 10 Oct 2012
82
81st
it's a great world war two movie, one in which i didn't mind the main characters being kids, and was pretty powerful until that voice-over ruined the ending. i was pretty damned close to tears, but you know, voice-over.
Rated 10 Oct 2012
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 09 Mar 2012
70
42nd
okul, arkadaslik, yahudi, 2. dünya savasi, kilise okulu, peder, yetim ormanda kaybolmak (finale kadar agir giden bir hikayesi var. Benzeri: Forbidden Games, Jeux interdits (1952))
Rated 09 Mar 2012
damildamil
Rated 19 Jan 2012
75
81st
It's quite a simplistic film with nothing truly remarkable in it. However, I found it very watchable and I was never bored. If you want a bit of a different wartime movie, I don't think you'd be wasting your time with this one.
Rated 19 Jan 2012
kingcautiKingCauti
Rated 29 Aug 2011
85
85th
This movie is truly beautiful and so absolutely emotionally painful at the exact same time.
Rated 29 Aug 2011
johnsandwichJohnSandwich
Rated 23 Aug 2011
90
95th
Terrific, heartbreaking film.
Rated 23 Aug 2011
grouchoGroucho
Rated 31 May 2011
40
93rd
"As ever, Malle's sensitivity is supreme and his style evocative."
Rated 31 May 2011
spanksSpanks
Rated 26 May 2011
80
82nd
The beginning was quite slow and the ending felt very, very rushed (the voice-over almost killed everything), but other than that it was a great film. I didn't really know what to expect going in, and once I found out it was another 'behind the action' WWII film I kind of groaned, although it did turn out to be a really awesome watch. It was nice to see early Irene Jacob too, even if it was for only two scenes.
Rated 26 May 2011
redfalconRed_Falcon_
Rated 22 May 2011
70
44th
A solid and well made film that really did not do much for me.
Rated 22 May 2011
vanessak69Vanessak69
Rated 10 Apr 2011
100
97th
Louis Malle's autobiographical masterpiece about life during Nazi-occupied France at a Catholic school. The ending is one of the most powerful scenes in cinema. Unmissable. Unforgettable.
Rated 10 Apr 2011
eric_wkEric WK
Rated 08 Mar 2011
100
99th
Between this and Murmur of the Heart, I don't think I'd be remiss in saying that Malle may be the greatest director of children of all time. He captures adolescence in such profoundly elegant ways, at once subtle and so clearly universal. And even with a backdrop that reaches a terribly moving conclusion, Malle manages to avoid melodrama and instead imbues the film with life and warmth and sly humor. The scene in which the kids watch Chaplin's "The Immigrant" is an all-time great.
Rated 08 Mar 2011
yesistastyyesistasty
Rated 19 Apr 2010
96
92nd
This film is so smooth, so subtle. It's easy to miss just everything that is going on beneath the seeming simplicity of the film.
Rated 19 Apr 2010
stainStain
Rated 20 Sep 2009
0
8th
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Rated 20 Sep 2009
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 01 Sep 2009
72
81st
Good Movie
Rated 01 Sep 2009
kahKAH
Rated 24 Jun 2009
3
74th
Takes about 45 minutes before the characters are established, but from there on this is really heart gripping. Very good performances by the two kids in the lead.
Rated 24 Jun 2009
shmendrekShmendrek
Rated 28 Dec 2008
3
61st
An extremely well-made film, but because of its inevitable conclusion, it's emotionally oppressive. Still, I'll take this over Schindler's List or Life is Beautiful any day.
Rated 28 Dec 2008
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 31 Aug 2008
5
93rd
A very simple and touching story about two boys' friendship during World War II. It's the culmination of Malle's coming of age stories, and here he's even more graceful than in Murmur of the Heart and Lacombe Lucien. He creates such strong characterizations through very subtle progression. The direction makes what should be obvious come like a punch to the face.
Rated 31 Aug 2008
trujilloTrujillo
Rated 26 May 2008
95
50th
Though I suspect AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS would seem slow to some, it does not lose a minute of its allure. The idea and stage in this film are both well suited for its patient narrative. It achieves what many of its kind attempt: It is able to portray the triumph of good despite its apparent defeat. The film works because the very presence of an audience places judgment and favor on the truth, goodness, and beauty laid bare. The film expands as a result! I only felt it held back a bit.
Rated 26 May 2008
icarusIcarus
Rated 21 Oct 2007
98
98th
A touching and personal film that really gets the onset of adolescence. Malle avoids typical child movie traps like over-sentimentalizing dramatic moments, instead opting for a pulled back approach that allows both film and viewer to breathe. The boys are both fantastic, and this film includes one of the great priest characters in cinema. The film is also great in its portrayal of growth and maturity coming as a result of an encounter with an "other."
Rated 21 Oct 2007
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
78th
It is a very long time since I saw this film, and it is probably time I saw it again, not least because Père Jacques ended up at Mauthausen and died in Linz shortly after having been liberated from the camp.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 07 Feb 2007
82
73rd
Malle splendidly recreates adolescence, immersing you completely in that world as many other coming-of-age films fail to do. Although the movie contains devastating events (which caught me completely off-guard, though in retrospect I should have seen it coming), there is a lot of warmth and compassion here. A touch simplistic at times and kind of blah in the earlier sections, but the political commentary is sufficiently nuanced, and the story is emotionally engaging.
Rated 07 Feb 2007

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