Zero For Conduct

Zéro de conduite does not comment on anything; rather it directly expresses a revolutionary sensibility. It unfolds with the surrealist poetry invoked by the child-like narration. Vigo sees through the eyes of his boys. Zéro de conduite substitutes dream for the analysis of Á propos de Nice with just enough facts of social life to ground its imaginary adventures. Its triumph is the surrealist access to the imaginary in the most commonplace setting, as seen in the opening sequence.

The film moves gracefully from realism to surrealism, narrative sense to anarchist disorder, but never veers from its disarming poetic tone. Like its subjects, may it be eternally young.

One thing about the Zero for Conduct plot: instead of adhering to a surface scheme, it follows an unpredictable inner logic. Vigo reaches straight into the most personal experiences, memories, images. Vigo shoots straight into the bullseye, as only a great artist—a genius—can. He sings with images that are so simple but that tremble nevertheless with a tremendous inner force and are open to as many interpretations as there are human memories, childhoods.