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Les Personnages, Criticises collaborators, and the greed and selfishness…
Les Personnages
Julien Quentin
He is smart, the best in class - his teacher praises him for his work but says he has a rival in Jean.
He discovers the truth about Jean - his name, sees him get hid from the milice, proves Jean doesn't eat pork
He doesn't like this. We can see his jealousy during the piano lesson where Bonnet demonstrates his prowess on the piano.
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He is immature. His reaction to his mother at the train station - saying 'Vous, je vous deteste', compared to his brother who is more distant. He also suffers enuresis later in the film.
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He is 12 years old and the main character of the film. He represents Louis Malle, the director of the film, since the film is a semi-autobiographical work, recounting what took place in January 1944.
He comes from a well off family in the North of France. He suffers from the separation from his parents, especially from his mother. In the first few scenes this sadness is felt - the apprehension on the train of returning to school.
Split character. He demonstrated coldness and harshness to Jean during their first meeting. 'Quand on me cherche, on me trouve'. Reinforce by interaction with his mother at the station. Contrast in his personality.
Jean Bonnet
Jew, along with Negus and Dupre
He is shy, reserved, and quiet, however doesn't speak often to protect his true identity
Very intelligent - solves maths easily, very good poem writing. Julien discovers he won a maths award. He reads the 3 Musketeers - a hard book. His favourite character is Aramis (the smartest). Plays the piano well.
Based on a real boy called Hans-Helmut Michel. He was friends with Louis Malle and taken by the Gestapo to Auschwitz on the 15 January 1944.
He's mysterious. This is most likely to protect his identity. However, he says he is a protestant, that his dad is a prisoner, and even Julien is not fully aware of Bonnet's background.
Joseph
Le contrabandier. Trades on the black market. (Cigarettes and jam) We see the effects and repercussion of this. This activity creates tensions between Joseph and the other students as there is issues of money. Microcosm of wider black market and corruption.
He is excluded, certainly by the students, but also his girlfriend and Mme Perrin who accuses him of theft in front of the other students.
He is bullied due to his disability, he says he is not a 'dog'. Francois laughs at him for his breakup
He is different from the others. He works in the kitchen of the school. Not only is his social condition different but also his physical condition. He is disabled. He is near the age of the others in the school, but he must work and the others benefit from a private education.
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Anti Semitic - 'T'es un vrai Juif'. When Julien doesn't want to trade, implying he is tight with money.
He snitches on the Jews, but is rewarded, he is now powerful and also has new clothes and cigarettes. He represents the collaborators of the war.
Pere Jean
Says 'au revoir, a bientot' instead of 'adieu'. Implies he will return. Also demonstrates his courage and bravery in the face of death and deportment. He wants to protect the children from the horrific reality.
He is a man of conviction, Strong moral values - hides Jews, doesn't give Jean the holy bread, fires Joseph. He is the moral beacon of the film. Demonstrates Catholic values.
Based on a real person named Pere Jacques, who was also deported to a concentration camp.
He is a resistant. He represents people during the war who didn't adhere to Nazi ideology and the persecution of Jews.
He risks his life and doesn't want to be submitted to Hitler's ideas. He is caught with hiding Jews. Aware of the risks he takes but he is courageous.
Although he is strict he is caring. The students like him a lot and this is reflected at the end of the film where they say 'Au Revoir mon pere'. Shows tenderness and attachment.
Francois
Demonstrates sexual desire towards women - and wider attitude towards women. He tries to kiss Mme Davenne and criticises women.
Tells the Milice they are 'collaborators' and wants to join the Resistance. Gives the Germans the wrong directions - an example of passive resistance.
Criticises collaborators, and the greed and selfishness of the rich and leaders during the war.
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