Now I'm not usually one who particularly gravitates to films centred on domestic and family drama. For instance, I ever really warmed at all to "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" or "Life With Father". So I was not predisposed towards towards the French film, "Faces of Children". But after a few minutes the film caught me.
Far from being a nostalgic picture of childhood, I feel that this film is a study of the various "faces" of "chiIdhood" as they manifest themselves in the actions and motives of the two main children. It opens with the funeral of Pierre Amsler's wife. Pierre has two children, a sensitive boy. Jean and his little sister, Pierrette played by Jean Forest and Pierrette Houyez respectively. Jean's reactions during the funeral clearly show how deeply he loves and misses his mother.
Thus, when the father remarries a widow with one daughter Ariette {Ariette Peyran} Jean's problems begin. During the initial movement of the plot. we are surely very sympathetic towards the boy. But as the story progresses my feelings change and I begin to pity Ariette who is treated shabbily and cruelly by Jean. The dysfunctional relationship is developed through a series of scenes dominated by the gratuitous cruelty of Jean. It is a face of childhood which contrasts to the gentle and sensitive side we see dramatised so poignantly in the first part of the film. During most of the film, we cannot help but share the deep hurt and anguish of little Ariette {another face of childhood}.
Throughout the various incidents, the stepmother's character is developed beautifully. She is never presented as the cause of Jean's distress, rather we see a sensitive, gentle, woman filled with a sweet maternal love. She makes persistent attempts to win Jean's love and he never really responds. Rather, he torments Ariette and fuels their mutual hatred.
Before you think that I am demonizing Jean, much of his anguish springs from a feeling that his dead mother has been disrespected by the action of his father's remarriage. He finds himself moved to a small room in the back and at one point discovers that the second Mrs Amsler intends to take some of his mother's clothes and make them into dresses for the girls. Of course, he freaks out. Of course he demonizes his stepsister--she's an easy and obvious target. Still, Jean, too, is only a child and is not fully aware of his irrational behaviour or the serious consequences that finally flow from it.
But In the end he must recognize this if he wishes to grow, he must face his own demons. He does so, and anyone who watches the ending of this film without their eyes misting up must have a heart of stone!
Far from being a nostalgic picture of childhood, I feel that this film is a study of the various "faces" of "chiIdhood" as they manifest themselves in the actions and motives of the two main children. It opens with the funeral of Pierre Amsler's wife. Pierre has two children, a sensitive boy. Jean and his little sister, Pierrette played by Jean Forest and Pierrette Houyez respectively. Jean's reactions during the funeral clearly show how deeply he loves and misses his mother.
Thus, when the father remarries a widow with one daughter Ariette {Ariette Peyran} Jean's problems begin. During the initial movement of the plot. we are surely very sympathetic towards the boy. But as the story progresses my feelings change and I begin to pity Ariette who is treated shabbily and cruelly by Jean. The dysfunctional relationship is developed through a series of scenes dominated by the gratuitous cruelty of Jean. It is a face of childhood which contrasts to the gentle and sensitive side we see dramatised so poignantly in the first part of the film. During most of the film, we cannot help but share the deep hurt and anguish of little Ariette {another face of childhood}.
Throughout the various incidents, the stepmother's character is developed beautifully. She is never presented as the cause of Jean's distress, rather we see a sensitive, gentle, woman filled with a sweet maternal love. She makes persistent attempts to win Jean's love and he never really responds. Rather, he torments Ariette and fuels their mutual hatred.
Before you think that I am demonizing Jean, much of his anguish springs from a feeling that his dead mother has been disrespected by the action of his father's remarriage. He finds himself moved to a small room in the back and at one point discovers that the second Mrs Amsler intends to take some of his mother's clothes and make them into dresses for the girls. Of course, he freaks out. Of course he demonizes his stepsister--she's an easy and obvious target. Still, Jean, too, is only a child and is not fully aware of his irrational behaviour or the serious consequences that finally flow from it.
But In the end he must recognize this if he wishes to grow, he must face his own demons. He does so, and anyone who watches the ending of this film without their eyes misting up must have a heart of stone!