A Pál utcai fiúk

Remember when you were a child and you and your friends engaged in a mock war? Remember how, just like real war, it seemed to get out of hand all too quickly? Well, that's what happens to the pre-adolescent and early-adolescent boys in this modern Hungarian classic, one of the best movies you (probably) never heard of. I don't want to say much more about the plot, but the ending will tear your heart out. I can hardly imagine a more profoundly antiwar statement. Masterfully written, directed and acted by all involved. This film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, and quite possibly deserved to win. Should be available on video but apparently isn't; if it were not for late-night TV, how would we ever get to see jewels like this in the USA?

Like many of the other commentators, I saw this (once only!) when roughly the same age as the boys in the movie. 30+ years later I still find myself thinking about it from time to time. The themes of friendship, loyalty and commitment should be equally appealing to an adult viewer.

I seem to recall the subtitle "The War" appearing on the screen all those years ago. Maybe it is a false memory, driven by the film's notion of "the good us" vs "the evil them" - which is the undercurrent of the book & movie, and is usually the undercurrent of most actual wars. Even as a kid you could understand the not so subtle message that the movie was delivering.

The original 1906 book was written by Hungarian Ferenc Molnár during the long spiral of European politics into WWI. The book is still a standard read in many European grade schools. It was also voted the second favourite book in Hungary in 2005.

This movie, about Hungarian kids, was filmed in Finland. I wonder if the language might be the reason for this film not being available on DVD in an English version. Quite unfortunate, as this was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film - losing to the Russian 8 hour version of War and Peace (Voyna i Mir).

I saw this film when it was first released in '69. I had just turned 14 and was blown away. I could relate to the whole gang of guys, what they were doing, what was really happening in context, and how tragically things turned out. I was (even more) hooked on film than before just from the screening of that one film.

Rare that you see films so well crafted and thoughtful. Haven't seen it since, and with time details have faded with the exception of a couple of scenes near the end. I have always kept my eye out for it. I remember I was in tears at the end. Perhaps we'll see it on video one day? I hope so. It would be very nostalgic to see it again, as well.

A film which I recently saw on DVD and recommend, if you haven't seen it already: Le Fils (The Son) by Belgian director, Jean-Pierre (and his brother Luc) Dardenne. It is disturbing throughout with the feeling of a perverse thriller until you discover what is really going on and then it's "get out the hankies" at the final cut. It's one of those films that just ends in mid-scene with a quick cut-to-black after a simple 20 or 30-sec. piece of blocking which serves as denouement, catharsis, and what I'll call "predictor of things to come". Check the data base for crits. Cheers.

Hugh Corston, Quebec City, Canada

I remember when I went to elementary school at fifth grade, all students had to read some novel as homework, one the first was "The Boys of the Paul Street", I had eleven years old, so too young, somehow I never forget this fabulous anti war novel, years later I found this novel adapted to the cinema, after four years stored in my collection l finally have a nerve to watch, more than expected this picture brings my early memories from my youth, what a movie, what a story, the director could translate to screen all message from this priceless book, the teenagers make exactly the men on war, every single war protocol, the meeting, the flags, the rules, spies, commanders, everything from the Hungarian Ferenc Molnar's immortal work, sadly has so few reviews shown us that it's certainly too much unknown by overwhelming majority, that's the life!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 10

This movie is a beautiful homage to the book of Ferenc Molnar, who died 17 years before it was made). Being one of my favourites, I used to re-read the book many times in my youth and it was a pleasant surprise seeing the movie following it to the word. Acting is also good - William Burleigh as the charismatic leader Boka, Anthony Kemp as the loyal and brave Nemecsek, all other boys as depicted in the book. Additionally, the final battle is hard and worth seeing. As a member of the modern "generation Y", I could never really relate to the spirit of fellowship on the streets, fighting for a piece to claim one's own and that battle showed how that was much more than just a child's play. A game for some kids can mean serious stuff for others, but excluding the unnecessary drama of contemporary movies of this genre.