Malle’s reminiscence of his childhood in occupied France and the strange new kid at his Catholic boarding school. Beautifully filmed in muted blues, greens and greys (much preferable to the yellow tones that The Godfather has made overly popular for period pieces) and excellently acted by all, especially the children. The film is never boring but only too rarely exciting and so what if the ending is a tearjerker? Anyone could have made that ending work. Still, the subject itself lends the film the weight that Malle is unwilling or unable to give it himself. Worth a look, recommended to children and teenagers.