Orphaned after a Nazi air raid, Paulette, a young Parisian girl, runs into Michel, an older peasant boy, and the two quickly become close. Together, they try to make sense of the chaotic and crumbling world around them, attempting to cope with death as they create a burial ground for Paulette's deceased pet dog. Eventually, however, Paulette's stay with Michel's family is threatened by the harsh realities of wartime.
Acting
Fossey's performance is uncanny—real grief from a five-year-old.
Direction
Clément frames horror through a child's-eye view.
Cinematography
Sun-drenched fields that feel like graves.
Director
René Clément
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Brigitte Fossey couldn't read the script; Clément explained scenes to her daily. Her tears in the final shot are real—she thought they were still filming.
Released the same year as 'High Noon' and 'Singin' in the Rain,' this foreign film about French peasant kids buried Hollywood's escapism alive at the box office.
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