Every day, AlloCiné recommends a film to (re)watch on TV. Tonight: a tender and poetic drama which marked the childhood of several generations.
When we think of this film, the first thing that comes to mind are those few musical notes, simple but immediately recognizable, that resonate with many of us. This unforgettable music is that composed by Narciso Yepes.
You will probably have understood, we are talking about Forbidden Games by René Clément. Released in cinemas in 1952 and adapted from the novel by François Boyer, this drama tells the tragic fate of little Paulette, who became an orphan following the bombings of June 1940 in central France.
The bereaved little girl is taken in by the Dollé, a peasant family. She becomes a friend of their eleven-year-old son, Michel. After burying Paulette's dog in an old mill, the two children will build a miniature cemetery with their own hands in which they bury insects and animals.
But the problems begin when Michel starts stealing crosses to decorate tombs.
An unforgettable children's duo
Telling the story of war to children is obviously a delicate mission. And among the ten best films that achieve this with flying colors, there is Tomb of the Fireflies, Life is Beautiful, and above all Banned games of Rene Clement.
Because when we look at the comments published on AlloCiné, we see that this drama marked the childhood of several generations. We can read in particular:
“72 years after its release, this film left a lasting impression on me”, “A jewel of French cinema to put in everyone’s hands”or even “It contains a powerfully emotional ending that will be indelibly imprinted on your consciousness for a long time.”
It is not for nothing that Internet users have given it the honorable average of 4.1 out of 5. As for rewards, the work of Rene Clement received the Honorary Oscar for Best Foreign Film, the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, as well as the BAFTA for Best Film.
The undeniable success of Banned games is particularly due to the stunning performance of the two young heroes: Georges Poujouly, then eleven years old, and Brigitte Fossey, just five years old. Moreover, at the time, the French actress had obtained this cult role thanks to a classified ad.
Although the years have passed, even today, Paulette and Michel remain one of the most significant child duos in French cinema. It continues to move us to tears (we all remember the moving final scene) and to take us back to childhood.
Tonight on Arte at 8:55 p.m.
