Der Wolfsjunge (1970)

In a French forest in 1798, a child is found who cannot walk, speak, read or write. A doctor becomes interested in the child and patiently attempts to civilize him.

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

François Truffaut (scenario, adaptation and dialogue), Jean Gruault (scenario, adaptation and dialogue)

Stars:

François Truffaut, Jean-Pierre Cargol, Françoise Seigner

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Pierre Cargol	...	Victor, l'enfant sauvage
François Truffaut	...	Le Dr Jean Itard
Françoise Seigner	...	Madame Guerin
Jean Dasté	...	Professor Philippe Pinel
Annie Miller	...	Madame Lemeri
Claude Miller	...	Monsieur Lemeri
Paul Villé	...	Remy
Nathan Miller	...	Baby Lemeri
Mathieu Schiffman	...	Mathieu
Jean Gruault	...	Visitor at Institute
Robert Cambourakis	...	Countryman
Gitt Magrini	...	Countrywoman
Jean-François Stévenin	...	Countryman
Laura Truffaut	...	Girl at farm
Eva Truffaut	...	Girl at farm

Storyline

1798. In a forest, some countrymen catch a wild child who can not walk, speak, read nor write. Doctor Itard is interested by the child, and starts to educate him. Everybody thinks he will fail, but with a lot of love and patience, he manages to obtain results and the child continues with normal development. This is based on true story.

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Plot Keywords:

wild child | feral child | doctor | boy | medical research | 

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Taglines:

At last an adult film to which you can take your children.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

12

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French French Sign Language

Release Date:

8 April 1971 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

The Wild Child

Filming Locations:

Aubiat, Puy-de-Dôme, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,680, 7 November 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$61,373, 17 January 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Artistes Associés, Les Films du Carrosse, Les Productions Artistes Associés

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Los Angeles opening of this film occurred one week before the discovery of an American "wild child", a young girl who had been kept isolated from human contact much of her life. The team of doctors working with her, arranged a private viewing of the French film for inspiration.

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Goofs

Automobile traffic can be heard on the soundtrack during some of the scenes which take place in the Revolutionary France-era Institute for the Deaf.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Le Dr Jean Itard: I'm glad that you came home. Do you understand? This is your home. You're no longer a wild boy, even if you're not yet a man. Victor, you're an extraordinary young man with great expectations. Later, we'll resume our lessons.

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Connections

Featured in Is It Real?: Feral Children (2007)

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Soundtracks

Concerto for Piccolo and Strings in C Major RV 443
Written by Antonio Vivaldi

User Reviews

A Great Film

Everything about this movie is great. The acting is done perfectly, particularly Victor. This child has the ability to evoke every primal human emotion without doing anything but making sounds and using facial expressions. Perhaps only a child could be capable of doing this but I doubt any child could do it as well. We feel sympathy for him and want to care for him ourselves at the same time that we are anxious about the deep mystery he forces us to recognize. The scene when he is rocking under the full moon, and the look on his face as the movie ends, are brilliant and frightening. The fact that this actor, to my knowledge, has done nothing since, adds to the effect. Where did he go? Might he have been more in touch with this side of humanity than just as an actor? Just incredible. And Truffault's direction was perfect as well. Filmed in a minimalist style and cleverly utilizing early film techniques, he evokes a time period yet allows no distraction from the actual issues involved in the story. The viewer is forced to pay attention and forced to deal with the issues confronting the doctor and his relationship with the boy. I cannot recommend this highly enough.