One of the most beautiful childhood movies airs tonight

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 composed by Narciso Yepes.

You probably guessed that we are talking about René Clement’s forbidden games. Released in cinemas in 1952 and adapted from the novel by Francois Boyer, this drama tells the tragic fate of little Paulette, who was orphaned after the bombings of June 1940 in central France.

Dole took the dead little girl into the peasant’s family. He becomes friends with their eleven-year-old son, Michel. After burying Paulette’s dog in an old mill, the two children build their own miniature cemetery in which to bury insects and animals.

But trouble starts when Michelle starts stealing crosses to decorate the grave.

An unforgettable children’s duet

Telling a war story to children is clearly a delicate mission. And among the top ten films that achieved this with flying colors are Grave of the Fireflies, Life is Beautiful, and Above All Forbidden games from Rene Clement.

Because when we look at the comments posted on AlloCiné, we see that this drama has marked the childhood of several generations. Specifically we can read:

“72 years after its release, this film left a deep impression on me”, “A jewel of French cinema that will capture everyone”or even “It contains a powerful emotional ending that will remain indelibly etched in your consciousness for a long time.”

It was not for nothing that Internet users gave it an honorable average of 4.1 out of 5. As for rewards, hard work. Rene Clement It received an honorary Oscar for Best Foreign Film, a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, as well as a BAFTA for Best Film.

An undeniable success Forbidden games Especially with the stunning performances of the two young protagonists: Georges Pujols, then eleven years old, and Brigitte Foss, just five years old. Moreover, at that time, the French actress got this iconic role thanks to a secret advertisement.

Although the years have passed, Paulette and Michel remain one of the most important child duos of French cinema. It continues to bring tears (we all remember the touching final scene) and takes us back to childhood.

Tonight at Arte at 20:55.