Au Revoir Les EnFants Synopsis Au Revoir Les EnFants is an autobiographical film that shows the effect of World War II and the Nazi invasion of France, more specifically private schools in France. The film's title translates to ‘Goodbye, Children’ in English. The story is based on director Louis Malle’s childhood and the heartbreak he endured due to the war. The movie tells the story of twelve year old Julien Quentin who is attends St. John of the Cross Carmelite Convent, a wealthy private Catholic boarding school in France. Julien comes back from winter break dreading the return of the dullness of boarding school, until Father Jean, the headmaster, introduces three new students. One of the new students, Jean Bonnet, is the same age as
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Julien disregards this information and continues his friendship with Bonnet. The school’s assistant cook, Joseph, is later caught selling some of the schools food to the black market. He attempts to bring down some of the students that attend St. John of the Cross Carmelite Convent, such as Julien and Francois with him by telling of them trading food from home on the black market. Father Jean fires Joseph and punishes the boys, but does not expel them so that he does not ruffle their wealthy parents feathers. Joseph struggles to find a job and therefore joins the Nazis. Soon after, the air raid alarms sound and the students head to the bomb shelter. Julien and Bonnet decide not to follow and instead go to the courtyard where they talk about their fathers and the war. The next day the Gestapo, or Nazi police, enter the boy’s class asking for Jean Kippelstein. Julien looks back and Jean, giving him away to the Gestapo. Everyone is ordered to pack their bags and meet in the courtyard, because the school is closing. Before Bonnet is escorted out of the school by the Gestapo, he and Julien exchange books he is allowed to grab his luggage from his room where Julien and him exchange books. Bonnet, Father Jean, Father Michael, and the two other students Father Jean brought into the school are taken off the property as the students say goodbye. It is revealed that Bonnet and the two other boys died at Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland. While, Father Jean died in
Julien disregards this information and continues his friendship with Bonnet. The school’s assistant cook, Joseph, is later caught selling some of the schools food to the black market. He attempts to bring down some of the students that attend St. John of the Cross Carmelite Convent, such as Julien and Francois with him by telling of them trading food from home on the black market. Father Jean fires Joseph and punishes the boys, but does not expel them so that he does not ruffle their wealthy parents feathers. Joseph struggles to find a job and therefore joins the Nazis. Soon after, the air raid alarms sound and the students head to the bomb shelter. Julien and Bonnet decide not to follow and instead go to the courtyard where they talk about their fathers and the war. The next day the Gestapo, or Nazi police, enter the boy’s class asking for Jean Kippelstein. Julien looks back and Jean, giving him away to the Gestapo. Everyone is ordered to pack their bags and meet in the courtyard, because the school is closing. Before Bonnet is escorted out of the school by the Gestapo, he and Julien exchange books he is allowed to grab his luggage from his room where Julien and him exchange books. Bonnet, Father Jean, Father Michael, and the two other students Father Jean brought into the school are taken off the property as the students say goodbye. It is revealed that Bonnet and the two other boys died at Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland. While, Father Jean died in