Small Change

Colour, 35 mm
France, 1976, 104 min
Section: Visions of Seven - Youth through the Eyes of French Filmmakers

Synopsis

In this film, François Truffaut seems to be offering his audiences a double dose of heartwarming benevolence. On the one hand through the evocation of the neighbourly and obliging atmosphere of a small town, on the other via the faithful portrayal of the world of children, from toddlers to adolescents. More time is devoted to the pupils of the local school than to the tiny tots, however, and the film is discreetly broken up into episodes when individuals from the school collective are brought forward as the director focuses on their particular problems. Isolation, failure, shyness, lack of understanding from their elders, infatuation and the anguish this brings – none of these anxieties is played down. On the contrary, the stories outlined here indicate that the life of children is just as dramatic as that of their parents. Truffaut pays subtle tribute to the sensitivity, vitality and resourcefulness of his young heroes and is continually able to touch his audience through masterful images of children’s spontaneity.

About the director

François Truffaut (1932–1984) was one of the most important representatives of the French New Wave. Unlike J.-L. Godard, who wanted to destroy both the world and cinema, only to then radically reform them, Truffaut strove to penetrate deep below the surface of reality and grasp its essence. His lyrical film testimonies demonstrate this achievement: They uncover the hidden tragedy of life and speak of people who are unsure of themselves, vulnerable and often hurt. A number of great actors have appeared in his films (J. Bisset, J. Moreau, I. Adjani, J.-P. Belmondo) and several made their names with him (J.-P. Léaud, F. Ardant). Apart from an autobiographical series featuring the character of Antoine Doinel, he made around thirty films, of which the best known are Jules and Jim (1962), Fahrenheit 451 (1966), Day for Night (1973), The Story of Adele H. (1975) and The Last Metro (1980).