Film Reviews by None

Louise Malle has provided controversy and debate for decades (Pretty Baby anyone?)and I hesitated when deciding whether to watch this semi-autobiographical tale. A narrative involving children , Nazis , catholicism and truth would surely be gruelling experience.

It is credit to Malle and his deft handling of the characters that mean this is surely his finest work. The film is set in a French boarding school run by priests and it is orientated around the boys' viewpoints and emotions. Our central character Gaspard (played by Julien Quentin in a heartbreaking performance) is an intelligent student who clearly misses his homelife. It is nearing the end of WW2 and we see Gaspard struggle to come to terms with the idea of war and anti-semitism. The themes of innocence and youth are subtly conveyed by Malle and we get a real sense of authorial viewpoint. The boy is Malle.

Gaspard's life and the life of many of the boys is changed with the arrival of Jean Bonnet (Raphael Fejto) - a similarly intelligent student who captivates Gaspard. The new arrival is clearly not all that he appears. The two boys share a secret which could end tragically.

"Au revoir.." could be sentimental and cloying in lesser hands but Malle's truthfulness lends it a lighter touch. This is a warm, memorable experience in which the sense of foreboding is finely balanced with the joy of childhood. This isn't "The Sound of Music" though many of the themes resonate. I shall be seeking out the rest of the Louis Malle collection as I have witnessed a master at the top of his game.

I have to be honest and say that when myself and my 6 year old son sat down to watch this movie we were both wishing it was a different animated feature - a film involving a flying house with balloons and an old man - but that hadn't been released at the time!

To our absolute delight "Cloudy..." was a pleasure from first to last. It is a hilarious yet moving tale of the typical outcast but is filled with such invention ; such unpretentious joy that I cannot remember laughing so much at a film for a long , long time. The story of an inventor who creates an invention that can make food fall from the sky is a whacky as it sounds and the ideas just keep on coming. Cooked chickens which walk and talk sound like something from a David Lynch movie but they are just typical of some of the outlandish images and characters that continually surprise.

The voices are perfect with Mr T a standout as the bounding police officer whilst the finale is genuinely thrilling and isn't the usual predictable round up of character arcs.

Throroughly recommended for adults and children alike.