Small Change (1976)
"L'argent de poche" (original title)

In the town of Thiers, summer of 1976, teachers and parents give their children skills, love, and attention. A teacher has his first child, a single mother hopes to meet Mr. Right, another ... See full summary »

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

François Truffaut (original scenario), Suzanne Schiffman (original scenario)

Stars:

Nicole Félix, Chantal Mercier, Philippe Goldmann

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicole Félix	...	Grégory's mother (as Nicole Felix)
Chantal Mercier	...	Chantal Petit, the Schoolteacher
Jean-François Stévenin	...	Jean-François Richet, the Schoolteacher (as Jean-François Stevenin)
Virginie Thévenet	...	Lydie Richet (as Virginie Thevenet)
Tania Torrens	...	Nadine Riffle, hairdresser
René Barnerias	...	Monsieur Desmouceaux, Patrick's father
Katy Carayon	...	Sylvie's Mother
Jean-Marie Carayon	...	Police inspector, Sylvie's father
Annie Chevaldonne	...	Nurse
Francis Devlaeminck	...	Monsieur Riffle, hairdresser, Laurent's father
Michel Dissart	...	Monsieur Lomay, constable
Michele Heyraud	...	Madame Deluca
Paul Heyraud	...	Monsieur Deluca
Jeanne Lobre	...	Julien's grandmother (as Jane Lobre)
Vincent Touly	...	Concierge

Storyline

In the town of Thiers, summer of 1976, teachers and parents give their children skills, love, and attention. A teacher has his first child, a single mother hopes to meet Mr. Right, another mom reaches out to Patrick, a motherless lad who is just discovering the opposite sex. Patrick befriends Julien, a new student who lives in poverty with his mother and has a terrible secret. Bruno shows his friends how to chat up girls. Sylvie stages a witty protest against her parents. Brothers give a friend a haircut. A toddler falls from a window and is unhurt. Everybody goes to the cinema. At camp, Martine catches Patrick's eye. A teacher explains: "Life is hard, but it's wonderful."

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Plot Keywords:

teacher | cinema | poverty | children | 1970s | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

17 March 1976 (France)

Also Known As:

Small Change

Filming Locations:

Allier, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,624 (USA) (27 November 2009)

Gross:

$38,296 (USA) (17 May 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Carrosse, Les Productions Artistes Associés

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

François Truffaut:  Sitting in a cabriolet, wearing his standard blue shirt in the first minute of the film.

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Quotes

Jean-François Richet, the Schoolteacher: I know we are all thinking about Julien Leclou. It's in the press... and you've heard your parents talking at home. Before you go on vacation... let's talk about Julien. I don't know much more than you do... but I'll tell you how I feel. First, Julien will be taken care of by Welfare. He will be placed in a family. Wherever he goes, he'll be better off than in his own home... where, in his own words, "he was beaten." His mother shall lose her maternal right. For Julien, it may be quite a few ...

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Connections

Referenced in Frances Ha (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Les enfants s'ennuient le dimanche"
Written and Performed by Charles Trenet

User Reviews

yes! yes!yes!

I've watched many of Truffaut's films and have found most of them to be really quite wonderful. This film has solidified his status in my book as the best of the French New Wave. I've waited to actually say that in print until I'd seen a good number of the offerings from the movement. Godard is too gimmicky, Chabrol too one track(though still well loved), Rohmer too static(but charming),Demy doesn't have the filmography and neither does Resnais or Varda(Demy's wife). Truffaut's films have a sensitivity, an intimacy and a simple quality that speak volumes to me.

Small Change(Pocket Money)has all of those qualities and more. I laughed and I cried but I never once felt that this great director had manipulated me. Sometimes films with children have a tendency to make me feel used. My heart strings pulled in every direction and twisted into every shape. Truffaut had no intention of mauling the senses instead he lets the childrens lives unfold naturally with the joys and sadnesses of all children. It was my very own memory of childhood for there is some child in this film who represents all of us.