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Au Revoir les Enfants

1987·Movie
1h 45min·PG
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

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High energy, big heart, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Spectacle6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Coming of Age8

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Satire & Parody3
  • Dark Humor3

World

History, war, and growing up

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Au revoir les enfants tells a heartbreaking story of friendship and devastating loss concerning two boys living in Nazi-occupied France. At a provincial Catholic boarding school, the precocious youths enjoy true camaraderie—until a secret is revealed. Based on events from writer-director Malle’s own childhood, the film is a subtle, precisely observed tale of courage, cowardice, and tragic awakening.
World War IIFrench CinemaBoarding SchoolFriendshipTragedyComing-of-AgeHistorical DramaLossNazi Occupation

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Au Revoir les Enfants

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Au Revoir les Enfants legally?

Au Revoir les Enfants is included with a subscription to HBO Max in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Au Revoir les Enfants worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88/100 (IMDb 8, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 88). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Au Revoir les Enfants rated?

PGViolence

It's rated PG in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is Au Revoir les Enfants?

1 h 45 min

Au Revoir les Enfants runs 1 h 45 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Au Revoir les Enfants?

Critics93
Audiences85

Not quite. Critics rate Au Revoir les Enfants higher (93) than audiences (85). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Au Revoir les Enfants a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$5 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $3 million to make and earned $5 million worldwide, 1.5 times its budget.

What language is Au Revoir les Enfants in?

FrenchEnglishGermanGreekLatin

It was made in French, with some English, German, Greek, Latin. Produced in Germany, France, Italy.

In how many countries can I watch Au Revoir les Enfants?

19ATBEBRCACHDEDKESFIFRGBGGIEKR+5

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Au Revoir les Enfants in 19 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Au Revoir les Enfants use?

Card-Carrying VillainLaser-Guided KarmaWe Used to Be FriendsPyrrhic VictoryTitle DropGreedy JewDoting ParentBonding over Missing ParentsLes CollaborateursCool Big BroBoarding SchoolMomma's Boyand 21 more

TV Tropes lists 33 storytelling tropes for Au Revoir les Enfants, including Card-Carrying Villain, Laser-Guided Karma, We Used to Be Friends.