Benji (Enzo Bossetti), the youngest of three brothers, is eight years old when the Germans occupy France in 1941. His father (Thibault de Montalembert) has returned from captivity, but his mother is very sick and dies a few months after his return. Benji adores his father, who is a respected professor, and at the same time wonders how it is possible that he can forget his mother so soon. From then on we follow, trough the eyes of Benji, the sometimes rapidly changing situations in an occupied country and in a rather chaotic family with a father who makes to put it mildly some rather unhappy choices. I don't want to give away to much but Benji and his brothers have to put up with all kinds of changes, which they seem to take in their stride. Un petit Parisien was made for TV but is nevertheless a very well crafted film with excellent performances. Without anything particularly spectacular happening there is never a dull moment. The photography is beautiful and, last but not least, the story is moving and very well told.
Review of Un petit Parisien
Un petit Parisien
(2002 TV Movie)
Occupied France seen trough the eyes of an eight year old boy
5 March 2006