Au Revoir les Enfants (1987)

As the gloom of 1944 descends upon Nazi-occupied France, we are transported into the serene sanctuary of a Catholic boarding school nestled in the countryside. Here, we meet Julien Quentin, a charismatic and scholarly upper-class boy, and his brother François. Their lives take a turn with the arrival of a new student, Jean Bonnet. Despite the initial friction between the two boys, Julien slowly uncovers the layers shrouding Jean's true identity - he is Jean Kippelstein, a Jewish boy living under a veil of deceit. The school, under the watchful eye of its compassionate headmaster, becomes a safe haven for Jean, concealing him from the venomous clutches of the Nazis. An unlikely friendship blossoms between Julien and Jean, cemented by a pact of secrecy and mutual respect. But the tranquil illusion of safety is shattered when the headmaster's act of firing Joseph, a servant caught pilfering supplies for the black market, unwittingly invites the ominous presence of the Gestapo. As the Gestapo's shadow looms over the school, the bond between Julien and Jean is tested. The revelation of Jean's identity spirals into a heart-wrenching climax, where innocence is lost and lives are irrevocably altered. "Au Revoir les Enfants" is a poignant semi-autobiographical narrative by director Louis Malle, woven from the threads of his own experiences at a boarding school during World War II. It is a haunting tale of friendship, courage, and the devastating consequences of war on the innocent.

Au Revoir les Enfants is a drama movie featuring Gaspard Manesse and directed by Louis Malle.

Au Revoir les Enfants is currently streaming on Criterion Channel, Max and Max Amazon Channel.