Cole12

In the Garden of the Finzi-Continis is a wonderful movie depicting the lives of a wealthy jewish family in Italy during the Holocaust era. Its tale of the family members is very emotional. For example, the portrayal of the mixture of the feelings of its more youthful characters is complex and refreshing. An overall sense of tragedy hangs over the movie in its later scenes, which is also worth noting. Ultimately, it tells the tale of the Finzi-Continis in a realistc, but unexpectedly artistic and beautiful manner.

Small Change is certainly one of Francois Truffaut's better efforts. When considering several of the excellent films he has made, that is a strong statement.

Small Change is simply about the lives of children. Grammar School children in France to be specific. That is the greatest extent any description of this film has to be. It is simply about children. What makes the film so wonderful is its simplicity in approaching its subject. It honestly views its subjects over the course of a year, and with few exceptions, does little else.

Perhaps that is what makes the film so original, because it views the world through the eyes of the children. The hopes and concerns of the children are brought to the screen with the priority system that a child would have, further emphasizing this point.

All things considered, this is an excellent film.

This film, one of the best of its era, is well known for having some of the best dialogue ever recorded on film, and I would agree with that assessment. The lines are sharp and biting, as they serve various purposes. The most important of these is insult. One of the reasons the dialogue is so well respected, is that it parallels the themes of the movie itself. For in fact, the movie, like the dialogue, carries a rough edge. Its portrayal of the extreme expediency of its characters is both depressing and fascinating. A first rate film, to be considered with the best of American productions.