Forbidden Games (Jeux interdits) (Jeux interdits)

This film won the Lion of Saint Mark,

the top award at the Venice Biennale,

with the following comment:

"For elevating the innocence of childhood,

by means of a lyrical purity and expressive force,

above the tragedy and grief of war. "

FORBIDDEN GAMES

JUNE 1940

Clear the way.

The swine!

- It's ruined! - I told you not to stop the motor.

My little Jock...

- We can't go on with three bags. - We'll stop a car.

Paulette!

Jock... Jock.

Paulette!

What are you doing? Do you want to get killed?

Go on, get in.

As if I'm not burdened enough...

Throw it away.

Don't you see he's dead?

He's dead?

Break my cart and I'll burn your truck!

If you want a fight, the war's somewhere else!

Hold your breath and blow up!

What's this horse doing here?

Yes, why's that horse there?

Careful, Georges. It's a warhorse, don't touch it.

- Was he shot? - No, it's this goddam horse.

I said not to touch it.

Easy, you're hurting me.

Titine's gone!

You couldn't stop her?

- Are you afraid? - I'm not afraid. Cows aren't scary.

I couldn't, I have my dog.

- What's with your dog? - He's dead.

- Where are you from? - From over there.

You're not from here.

No, and you?

Me, yes... Where's your mother?

She's dead.

- And your father? - He's dead.

My father's not dead.

He'll whip me if I don't bring back the cow.

Help me bring it back.

But my dog?

Leave your dog... I'll give you another.

- A good one? - Not bad.

Where is it?

At home.

You'll give me that dog?

No, that's the neighbour's.

- Can he swim? - I don't know. We don't speak.

What's his name?

Gouard. That's their name.

- What's your surname? - Dollé.

- And you? - Michel. What's yours?

Paulette.

You're from Paris?

- Yes... and you? - Me, no.

Will your father let me keep the dog?

I don't know.

What're you doing here, stupid dog?

I'll teach you to be a watchdog.

What did my dog do to you?

Always barking and we've got someone wounded.

You care for the wounded so they'll die sooner.

It's all right for you to kill people.

Who pulled your grandmother out of the water?

She'd drowned when you pulled her out.

No, I got a medal for life saving.

I didn't ask you.

Anyway, I'm sick of hearing about your life-saving medal.

Now what's this?

Her father and mother were killed.

What should I do about it?

We could keep her!

You and your wounded brother!

All right, she'll go to the Gouards.

The Gouards? They'll want another medal.

Come and tell us all about it.

That goddam horse!

Pick my money up.

Who's there?

I came to say...

She's from the road.

I found her.

Who is it?

She's all dressed up.

I want material like that for my dress.

Her parents were killed...

She'll tell us about it.

I'll give it to her.

Really? You'll tell us about the war?

- You saw the bombs? - Where are you from?

- What's your name? - How old are you?

So you've nothing to say?

Are you thirsty?

It's dirty.

Look at your glass. There's a fly.

Go on, drink.

Not thirsty?

She doesn't want it.

You'll scare her crowding her like that.

It's better to act uninterested.

Michel, I'm tired.

"The military situation worsened on all fronts

"throughout yesterday.

"The ministers met all day."

You see!

"Our troops' resistance is strong and effective."

Do your maths.

"A slice of veal weighing 2 1/2 kilograms costs 142 francs."

"An alert in Malta."

"How much would it cost to buy a slice weighing 150 grams?"

- Well! - Don't wake her.

- The Gouard's son. - What!

Why would he be in the paper?

- Why not! They decorated him. - Decorated Francis, that really hurts.

At least he's doing his bit.

That's enough... what is it?

A blanket for the kid.

Take Raymond's.

I haven't any spare.

Take mine.

It's the same bed.

I can give it to her.

Poor kid!

At that age they don't understand!

Seventeen dead on the bridge.

They can't even bury them properly.

If you die now you don't even get a box!

What do they do?

Dig a hole, like dogs.

Don't say that.

She's asleep.

Did you see it: "A German side-car was captured"...

You all right?

Yes... Oh, I don't know.

She's so clean!

Smells like perfume.

She's so clean she'll never get used to it here.

Why not?

You want to keep her, don't you?

All right, go on down.

I'm afraid of the dark.

Call out "Michel" and I'll come.

Louder

Yes, like that.

- What's she want? - I don't know.

Shut her up.

- And my maths? - Do what you're told.

I won't do my maths.

I can't see anything.

Close your eyes and count to ten.

How many fingers?

I said I can't see.

- Can't you count? - Three.

You see, you can see.

- Why stick out your tongue? - To see if you can see.

A rocket! Come see.

I'm afraid. I'll sleep on the floor.

You're afraid of the dark and the light!

- Is it still bright? - No!

Liar!

It's over.

I don't want to stay here.

You have to... Where'll you go?

I want to go to mama and papa on the bridge.

They're not there any more.

Why? Where are they?

In a hole.

In a hole?

Like dogs?

Are they in a hole because of the rain? To stay dry?

It must be for that.

But my dog... won't he be wet?

Can you sleep?

You're not afraid?

Can I go?

Michel...

- What is it? - Don't you hear her?

- What? - I don't want her to cry out.

Don't get mad like that.

Why are you yelling?

Afraid?

Don't yell then.

I didn't.

See, I told her. She's asleep.

She is, but I'm not.

If you wish, I won't either.

Want me to read you the paper?

The war?

No, not the war, the serial.

"It was still too soon to give the signal to leave.

"Nonetheless, some who were travelling on horseback"...

Don't talk about horses...

All right, I'll skip some:

"Thus, all the precautions

"had been taken around