Les galapiats (1970) User Reviews

Emblematic

[paulocardinal-1 · 9/10 · 10 October 2006]

This early 70's series - named «Pequenos vagabundos», in Portuguese, was undoubtedly one of the most (if not the ONE) emblematic and charismatic of a couple of generations TV viewers in Portugal, but also in several other European countries like France and Belgium. It packs together many ingredients, it has adventure, mystery, action, youth and «grandee's» characters - as well as some nice actors - that made it most appealing especially to kids and teenagers. It has now a DVD edition and let me tell you: what a moment to experience these kids adventures again, this time through the eyes of an adult. In conclusion, it is a good piece of work that deserves to be watched.

One of the best European TV movie for young people ever made

[danilo1 · 8/10 · 7 December 2019]

Perhaps seen now it may seem a little dated but when it was done in 1969 it was a great success among all young Europeans. Basically a treasure hunt by a group of young French and Belgians during a summer. Those who wrote it have cleverly included in history all the elements that might please the youngest of the time: castles, Japanese motorcycles, remote-controlled planes, helicopters, bandits, gold bars, etc.. It was probably shot on 16mm and in color during the summer of 1969 all in real places. Many current screenwriters can learn how to write a very good adventure tv series for teeens.

Up Wallonia up !

[myriamlenys · 8/10 · 30 October 2021]

As a Belgian child, I was lucky enough to grow up during a golden era for children's entertainment on television. On the Flemish side, there were television series like "Kapitein Zeppos" or, especially, the splendid "Fabian van Fallada". The Walloons were no slouches either, witness the hugely popular "Les galapiats". "Les galapiats" tells a rousing adventure story about a group of teenagers who find a large amount of gold. They think they've discovered a fabled treasure hidden since the Middle Ages, but in fact they've discovered the loot of a very recent hold-up. Will these brave teenagers be able to outwit the bandits ? The answer, of course, is yes, after many a daring and enterprising stunt.

The series makes excellent use of the many charms of Wallonia, such as its Ardennes forest, its ancient castles and abbeys, its rich traditions. The finale, for instance, is pretty much a hymn to the town of Stavelot, its folklore and its devotion to patron saint Saint-Remacle. The passage of time has endowed the various episodes with an additional time capsule charm, highlighting machines and uniforms now lost to oblivion.

I suppose that "Les galapiats" will strike young viewers and adults very differently. As a child you sit there and think : "Oh, nice, these guys get to do all kinds of cool stuff without pesky adults interfering. Organizing a duel, driving a fast motorcycle, climbing a castle tower, carrying a gun - what fun". As an adult you sit there and think : "Sweet Jesus, where are these guys' parents ? Or where are the grown-ups supposed to act in loco parentis ? You might as well confide your offspring to a blind and deaf baboon !".

I must be pretty ancient, because I felt the little hairs on my neck rise at the sight of a group of youngsters entering an extensive cave system without taking the most basic precautions, such as telling an outsider of their plans or posting their way with a variety of unmistakable signs. Good people, never ever do this - Belgium may be a small country, but it still holds caves large enough to swallow the unwary...

Indeed, the series might be of particular interest to persons teaching law. Just show the first four or five episodes to your class and ask questions on the theme of "If person X got blinded / bitten / paralyzed / flattened / burned to a crisp / etcetera, which person(s) would be deemed liable or accountable under the law ?" Normally you'd get enough material for a whole semester.

One of my favorites show at the time, if not my absolute favorite

[max-421 · 10/10 · 12 August 2005]

It was excellent, for a boy was representing the word adventure at his best. The locations where just beautiful, and for me living in the Italian countryside, even if filmed in Belgium, very familiar. The blond girl was the love of every teenager watching the show. What was surprisingly was that the boys sound so vivid, so genuine, they did really stuck with your imagination.

There was mystery, adventure, and the boys where venturing alone, without any teaching adult, discovering their ability, building a pack, a team, facing adversity, and proudly seeking a treasure... I saw it just one time when I was 10 and I still remember it vividly.

The DVD is finally out and I ordered it today!

The most fascinating television series to be broadcast in Portugal in the 1970's

[zemotalopes · 10/10 · 15 July 2004]

One of my favourite shows ever, eight 28 minutes episodes, great fun and adventure, i know that most of the Portuguese over 30 years of age still remember some of the scenes and the opening music theme. I believe that this show has influenced the way we played our games in the 70's and eighties, made us more inventive, this show was repeated on Portuguese television( back then there was only ONE Portuguese T.V. Station) several rimes, from the early seventies until 1984. The scene where "cowboy) falls from the Castell's walls, the scene inside the Cave, the saving of "Marion" and the Final scene, are probably the most emblematic television scenes for a whole generation of Portuguese, and i Presume Belgiums.

The Best

[p-azul-1 · 10/10 · 26 December 2008]

This mini Series pass in Portugal 3 times, all children with my age have seen that. In that time we don't have color TV, however is simply the best to me and my friends, all us run home when episodes begun. Now with 42 years old I buy the DVD and run home to see that with my son, and amazing he love that too. This is my favorite TV series in that time. At my work I said to some man with my age this TV series is in DVD and some of them who like that like me buy in next day. I believe this series have success all over Europe and especially in Latin countries.

Regards

A band of teen are involved in an adventurous quest in South of Belgium

[alakin-1 · 10/10 · 8 June 2008]

My favorite series when I was 12 y.o. in Belgium. I saw this on the French RTBF television and it I became an instant fan of this series which inspired me for a long time in my forest games with my friends! It had the adventurous touch that a kid is looking for with great suspense. The variety of characters in the series allow kids to easily identify with one of them. They were not super-heroes but simple, easily identified common heroes (like Bilbo and Frodo in the Lord of the Rings). You will find all the essential ingredients for a great mystery and an action movie. This TV series definitively influenced all my generation as all my friends always talked about it at school. I wish they would release a DVD version of it and I will buy it without hesitation. The series as some boy scouts flavor that make it a great hit for Nature lovers.