Le Vieil homme et l'enfant
Claude Berri
During World War II, the Nazi occupying force and its collaborators in France are hunting down the Jews. The Landmann's decide to entrust their only son to a neighbor's parents living in the country. The child has to conceal his religion in order to live with the gruff old anti-Semitic man and Pétain supporter. His arrival transforms the old couple's life and draws them out of their solitude.
With : Michel Simon, Alain Cohen, Charles Denner, Luce Fabiole, Roger Carel, Paul Préboist
Screenplay : Claude Berri, Gérard Brach
Image : Jean Penzer
Sound : Jean Labussière
Music : Georges Delerue
Editing : Sophie Coussein
Screenplay : Claude Berri, Gérard Brach
Image : Jean Penzer
Sound : Jean Labussière
Music : Georges Delerue
Editing : Sophie Coussein
Production : Valoria Films, Renn Poductions, Paul Cadéac
Distribution: Pathé Distribution
Distribution: Pathé Distribution
In 1967, Claude Berri made The Old Man and the Boy, his first film, with Michel Simon in the leading role. This film and Papa's Cinema from 1970 took their inspiration from his childhood. Claude Berri "shot the looks and capers of an eight-year-old boy completely indifferent to what was going on, and in so doing made a film about terror, misery, human kindness, the precarious nature of understanding and the miracle of life." (Jacques Levy, film critic). For me the film not only portrayed anti-Semitism, but also prejudice and stupidity. (...) For a while, he [Michel Simon] was afraid of being identified with his character. (...) He suggested a perfectly workable solution. After the phrase "The Jews will return", he simply wanted to add, "Don't worry little one, they can't be any worse than the rest." It didn't at all change the intent of my film, in fact it added to it. So I said yes and he signed the contract.