La fracture du myocarde

This is one of those bittersweet treasures that come along from time to time. It does not make a universal declaration, it is not an "art" movie, it is just a simple tale, but one that haunts, makes one remember the day when it was kids v. adults and the kids were supposed to win.

Loss and the way we experience it even when finding first love, what isn't to like about such an effort? I watched it with a group of 14-15 year old high school students and they loved it-that should say it all.

Realistic? maybe not, but like a dream it stays true to its own logic and the solutions to problems are, perhaps the result of adult wish fulfillment, but never the less stay true.

As a teacher of the french language in one of the school systems in Massachusetts, I was delighted to be able to present "Cross my Heart" to my students. It was presented to 9th through 12th graders. The general reaction was quite positive. Students truly enjoyed the film. Some felt the story was unbelievable but most felt that the thinking of "false sense of loyalty" (i.e. covering for one another, at that age) was very much possible. Actually it happens on an every day basis in today's schools. I would rate the film as 9 on a 9 to 10 basis.

I've seen this film at the 1991 Berlin Film Fest 12 years ago and I still consider it today as one of the best foreign films to this date. It reminds me a lot of Lasse Hallstrom's My Life as a Dog. It's about a little boy who loses his mother and due to fear of the orphanage, enlists the help of his classmate to hide this fact from teachers and authorities, only their help is much more than he bargain for. I think this film is a must see for those who are looking for a fresh story without overly dramatic scenes and over acting children. One user mention they showed this film to their French class. I couldn't think of a better film. Open your eyes and your mind and give this film a chance. You will not be sorry.

I watch this movie when it came out 11 years ago, at that time i was 10 years old and until now i still remeber it really well. This movie haunted my dreams for such a long time and i could see myself as any of the characters. At 10 yo i didnt understand the title, la fracture du myocarde, but later i laughted a bit and this show exactely the meaning of the movie, ignorance of children. For those who dont speak french its a play on words about infarctus du myocarde(heart attack) and la fracture(the break)... I nerver saw it again but a movie as to be good if i still remeber it by now :) Enjoy all of you

For me, only French directors can do good films with children, because in their movies, children acts like real children. In American films, children are always full of tears, little beast for the pleasure of adults. In Canadian films, kids always talks like an adulte screenwriter. But in France, kids are really kids, like in this one! I can name a lot of others films with children like that : La Guerre des Boutons, Promis Juré, Le Petit Prince a dit, etc. Here is a warm story about solidarity between young people face to the adult world. They protect each other from the incomprehension of the adults. I saw La Fracture du Myocarde in a movie theatre in 1991, and I have it on video cassette. I look at it from time to time and still really love it, because it's fun and very human.