"Sans famille" (1981) TV series

User Rating:

9.7/10   

Director:

Jacques Ertaud

Writer:

Hector Malot (novel)

Release Date:

29 November 1981 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Remi's quiet childhood in chevegnon is interrupted one day as his father comes home after 7 years in Paris...

Plot Keywords:

Kidnapping | Children

Cast

Fabrice Josso	...	Remy Barbarin
François Pinat	...	Mattia
Gérard Darrieu	...	Jerome Barbarin
Jean Franval	...	Mr. Vitalis / Carlo Balzani
Céline Delrieu	...	Liz Acquin (as Céline Ertaud)
Jean-Pierre Bagot	...	Mr. Acquin
Christian Barbier	...	Gaspard Acquin
Charles Moulin	...	The 'teacher'
Pierre Doris	...	Garofoli
Marc Chapiteau	...	Bob
Edward Meeks	...	James Menger
Petula Clark	...	Lady Elizabeth Milligan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alan Adair	...	Jonathan Gray
Marcelle Barreau	...	Miner's Wife
Claudine Berg	...	Miner's Wife
Ariane Bisciglia	...	Maid (ep 4&5)
Paul Bisciglia
Jacques Bretonierre	...	Justice of the peace
Claude Brosset	...	Comparyou
Nathalie Calme	...	Ettienette Acquin
Bernard Cazassus	...	Mine doorman
Magali Clément	...	Monette
Jean-Michelle Colonna	...	Angelo
Raoul Curet	...	Church Orphanage director
Pierre Danny	...	Pages
Martine de Breteuil	...	Baronesse
Germaine Delbat	...	Nanny on boat
Gérard Dournel	...	Police detective
Michael Drai-Dietrich	...	Riccardo
Martine Ferrière	...	Mrs Gaspard Acquin
Patricia Francis	...	Inkeeper (ep 4)
Marcel Gassouk	...	Prison Guard (ep 3)
Gabriel Gobin	...	Old miner
Alain Janey	...	Mr. Fresnel
Flavien Labaye	...	Pietro
Marius Laurey	...	Barman
Hans Meyer
Pierre Mirat	...	Hotel owner (ep 3)
André Oumansky	...	Mine engineer
Eric Remy	...	Paperboy
Adelita Requena	...	Madwoman
Jean-Marie Richier	...	Carlin
Jacques Rispal	...	Doctor
Frédéric Sage	...	Frederico
Sophie Sam	...	Maid (ep 3)
Yvon Sarray	...	Mr. Lantier
Gérard Sergue	...	Lavasseur
Serge Spira	...	Adrieux
Martin Trévières	...	Mine foreman
Alexandre van Rooy	...	Arthur
André Weber	...	La Passeur
Yves Wecker	...	Alexis Acquin

Also Known As:

"An Orphan's Tale" (USA)

Runtime:

53 min (5 episodes)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Company:

Société Française de Production (SFP)

Movie Connections:

Version of "Ie naki ko Remi" (1996)

In my opinion , one of the best mini series of all time!

France were great for making wonderful mini series back in the 70's and 80's and this one is really special."Sans famille" is the French "Oliver Twist" thats the best way to describe the story.Remie lives happily in a farm with his Mother Madame Barberin until Madame Barberin husband comes home and Remie find out that he his not the Barberin's son.Mister Barberin sell Remie to Vitalis , a street performer and then his adventure begins.Along his Journey, he will meet all sort of people and make new friend like Mattias,Liz and the rich British woman Miss Milligan and her son....well, there are more then meet the eye to miss Miligan and she might not be as sweet and caring as we all think at first. What makes this mini series really stand out is the Acting!!! , it's terrific,I would even say that half of the actors would have gotten an Emmy if that production was American. Jean Fraval as Vitalis especially stand out , that man had given so much power to the role that the hair on my arm raise.The scenes with Vitalis near the end of the first episodes are really gut wrenching. The younger actors are also really good , but the real star out of the kids was Francois Pinnat who played Mattias,that kid was so convincing and just so likable in the role I felt a real loss when it was his time to say goodbye to Remie. Fabrice Josso is very good as Remie and for the French he his the ultimate Remie as he was also voicing the Japanese animated show just a year after filming the mini series.It is very amusing to watch the films and at the same time listening to Remie's voice and getting flashback of the cult (well for France) animated show. Like Oliver Twist what makes sans famille works is that Remie is not the main star , the purpose of his journey is really to make us discover France of the 1800's with all its diverse characters. There was a couple of other version made of that great story including a not very good version of it in 2002 but if you want to experience the story the way it was written , this TV show is your best bet. 10 out of 10