Then, I saw the poster of "Goodbye, Children". Against the black background, the faces of the two children cuddling together, their eyes were confused but innocent. There is a mirror between them, reflecting each other's youth.
After a long wait, I finally saw this film.
I thought it was a purely growing film, but I didn't expect it to be in such a big background. During the Second World War, France under the German occupation and the French cooperation with the German army should also have a relatively humiliating history in France.
Julien and his brother Francois were sent to a boarding school in the countryside. Three new students were transferred this semester, one of whom was in Julien. The class is called Bonnet. Julien is a bit like the monitor in our class when I was young, smart, easy to learn, and popular. And the newcomer Bonnet is as easy to learn, smart and likes to read like Julien. What's more, he can play a good piano
. Everyone bullied Bonnet at the beginning. On the one hand, he is a newcomer, on the other hand. Because Bonnet is a little withdrawn. Julien is also one of the kids who bullied Bonnet, but he made no secret of his curiosity about this new partner. Of course, the two of them are standard young literary and artistic youths today, or juveniles, and they have a lot of common language. Gradually they began to chat and talk about the novels they had read. At this time, bullying also brought more playful elements.
By chance, Julien discovered Bonnet's secret: Bonnet is Jewish. Julien asked his brother, why the Jews are our enemy, his brother couldn't tell why he came, but he was busy asking Julien to help him deliver the letter to the beautiful piano teacher. War, politics, race, these things are not topics that children should care about. The innocence of childhood and the sprouting of youth are the main theme of growth.
Julien and Bonnet gradually became good friends. The Boy Scouts searched for treasures to find their way and were eventually sent back by the German soldiers; they hid behind the piano when they were alerted, and played the piano and eat chestnuts together while everyone was in the air-raid shelter; Julien’s Their mother took them to the restaurant for dinner (Jews were not allowed in), because they were speaking to an old Jewish gentleman and were reprimanded by the French soldiers. When the situation was critical, a German soldier came out to help them out (because they coveted Julien's mother's beauty). I thought everything would develop in a good direction, but the reality is cruel.
On that cold January morning, the Gestapo led a group of German troops into the classroom that was in class and asked everyone to point out the three Jewish children here. The classroom was very quiet and there were no children talking. Julien looked at Bonnet anxiously, and was guessed by the cunning Gestapo that Bonnet was a Jewish kid. The other two children ran away, but were still caught back. The Gestapo asked everyone to pack up and assemble on the playground. Bonnet gave Julien all the novels he had read, and Julien also gave Bonnet the "Arabian Nights" that the two people secretly used their flashlights to watch at night.
On the playground, the Gestapo looked at the remaining children and questioned whether they were Jewish. At this time, Bonnet, the other two Jewish children and the principal who harboured them were brought out by the German army. The children said: Goodbye, priest. The principal priest said the title of the film: Goodbye, children.
The priest and Bonnet were taken away, Bonnet stayed for a second before leaving, looking at Julien, Julien waved to him, and then Bonnet was pushed out of the door by the Germans. The camera stayed on the unclosed door for three seconds, which was such a long three seconds. Then the camera turned to Julien's face, and a mature voice-over sounded: Bonnet and other three children died in Auschwitz concentration camp, the priest died in Mauthausen concentration camp, the school reopened in October 1944, and it has passed. Forty years, but I will remember every minute of that January morning until I die. Then Julien's tears filled his blank eyes. This is the voice of Julien and it is also the voice of Louis Mahler
View more about Au Revoir les Enfants reviews
