Au revoir les enfants - 6 stars out of 10

Au revoir les enfants - 6 stars out of 10

"Au revoir les enfants" is a sad story of friendship within Nazi-occupied France. The story transitions from sad to devastating when you realize that it is based on childhood events from director Louis Malle's life. Though the acting of Gaspard Manesse and Raphael Fejto is wonderful, the writing creates a slow-moving story that lacks a powerful emotional scene that should make this story a tear-jerker. The friendship between the boys is more realistic than the way that a Disney movie would have them become instant best friends who are finishing each others' sentences, which adds to the genuine feel. Unfortunately, I have to point out that the boys' hands do not match up with the music during the piano scenes and that always irks me. It isn't "Life is Beautiful" or "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," but it is a powerful WWII film that is worth watching.