Childhood Innocence In Wartime - FORBIDDEN GAMES

FORBIDDEN GAMES (JEUX INTERDITS)

1952 - 86 minutes - Drama/War
Director: René Clément
Country: France
IMDB: 7.9

The unique storybook opening of Forbidden Games

Metacritic: N/A
RT: 100%

CinemaChagrin's Rating: A-

Watch this movie if you enjoy: 

• Realistic depictions of children
• Themes concerning mortality
• Excellent child actors
• WWII films

Avoid this movie if you dislike:

• Tragic films
• Macabre actions performed by children
• French-language films

French films seem to have a penchant for realistic and convincing depictions of children. From  François Truffaut's The 400 Blows to Louis Malle's Au Revoir Les Enfants,  French directors have crafted many nuanced and accurate films focused on children.  Forbidden Games, René Clément's controversial 1952 WWII film, is no exception.

The film opens with an incredibly heartbreaking sequence. Frenzied Parisians are fleeing the city to escape the Nazi invasion of June 1940; the roads are clogged with refugees. Five-year old Paulette (Brigitte Fossey) loses both of her parents and her pet dog in a German air raid on the refugee column. She stumbles off of the road in a dazed stupor, wandering through the neighboring fields and farms with the body of her pet before encountering a young farmboy named Michel (Georges Poujouly). He instantly takes a liking to her and convinces his family to take her in. They soon develop a strange friendship of sorts as they become obsessed with death and create a fantasy world together in the midst of the horrors of the Second World War.

Michel (Poujouly) and Paulette (Fossey)

Clément's austere direction ensures that the film's primary focus remains on the two child leads, who put forth absolutely magnificent and natural performances. Fossey is perfect as the traumatized survivor of a wartime attack who cannot comprehend the death of her entire family, while Poujouly captures pre-adolescence daring quite convincingly. Their bond appears sincere and steadfast despite their differences. Michel does anything and everything to please and protect Paulette, despite the questionable nature of some of his actions and Paulette's temperamental nature. Paulette views Michel as her guardian, and displays both the childlike innocence and lack of conscience characteristic of five-year olds.

Though the duo takes up sizable portion of screen time, the supporting cast (consisting mainly of Michel's family and some neighboring farmers) are excellent as well. Strangely enough, the film contains elements of dark humor that are effectively juxtaposed with the macabre actions of the children and general wartime atmosphere. A vicious rivalry between two neighboring farm families serves as a backdrop to the relationship between Michel and Paulette, placing their actions in a larger human context.

Fascination with death is a major theme of Forbidden Games

Of final note is the film's score, which consists entirely of haunting classical guitar which plays whenever Michel and Paulette appear together. Composed by Narciso Yepes, the main melody exudes tragedy and sadness, perfectly mirroring the events unfolding onscreen, including the film's unflinchingly brutal denouement. The soundtrack is actually more well-known than the film itself, judging by the countless number of various covers and recordings of it produced over the years.

Forbidden Games provides an enthralling and realistic look at how children can cope with death. It features two wonderful child actors, a poignant and moving score, and an absolutely tragic plot. Fans of escapist cinema will find no refuge here; however, those who value realism and mature themes in the movies can truly appreciate this wonderful piece of filmmaking.

-CC

Check out this gorgeous rendition of the guitar theme of Forbidden Games: