What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAu Revoir les Enfants
Louis Malle · Film · 1987
If you loved Au Revoir les Enfants, start with Generation War (Philipp Kadelbach, 2013) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Au Revoir les Enfants across media.
What hooked you in Au Revoir les Enfants was how the brutal reality of war shatters the fragile, intimate bonds of childhood.
Books on the same thread
Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth
Leo Tolstoy · Book · 1991
Explores: loss of innocence, social class, family dynamics.
Just as Au Revoir les Enfants captures the vulnerability of youth, this exploration of 19th-century life mirrors the profound internal transformation and loss of innocence experienced by the protagonists.
All Quiet on the Western Front
Erich Maria Remarque · Book · 1987
Explores: Loss of innocence, The trauma of trench warfare, Existential disillusionment.
If the tragic disillusionment of Au Revoir les Enfants resonated with you, this novel provides a similarly harrowing look at how global conflict destroys the camaraderie of young men.
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry · Book · 1943
Explores: Friendship, Loss of innocence, Spiritual journey.
While this fable is more whimsical than Au Revoir les Enfants, it shares a poignant focus on the spiritual journey and the inevitable, bittersweet loss of childhood innocence.
The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale (Pantheon Graphic Library)
Art Spiegelman · Book · 2022
Shares a thread with Au Revoir les Enfants: Guilt.
This graphic novel explores the haunting legacy of the Holocaust through a personal lens, echoing the way Au Revoir les Enfants grounds vast historical tragedy in individual family memory.
Series on the same thread
My Brilliant Friend
Saverio Costanzo · Series · 2018
Explores: Female Friendship, Childhood, Memory.
The deep, formative bond between friends in this series evokes the same emotional intensity found in Au Revoir les Enfants, highlighting how environment shapes the trajectory of adolescent development.
Generation War
Philipp Kadelbach · Series · 2013
Explores: Loss of Innocence, The Horrors of War, Friendship Tested.
This series reflects the same somber examination of friendship tested by war as seen in Au Revoir les Enfants, tracing how innocence is irrevocably lost under military occupation.
Band of Brothers
Series · 2001
Explores: brotherhood, war trauma, leadership.
The focus on brotherhood and survival in this series captures the same spirit of camaraderie under pressure that defined the central relationship within Au Revoir les Enfants.
'Allo 'Allo!
David Croft · Series · 1984
Explores: World War II, French Resistance, Mistaken Identity.
While a sharp tonal departure from the gravity of Au Revoir les Enfants, this satire examines the same period of French occupation through the lens of hidden identity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Good Children
Podcast
Explores: Childhood Memories, Coming of Age, Queer Identity.
These candid reflections on growing up capture the same authentic essence of childhood friendship found in Au Revoir les Enfants, though viewed here through a modern, nostalgic lens.
To Be A Boy
Podcast
Explores: raising boys, toxic masculinity, male friendships.
This podcast investigates the complexities of boyhood, providing a deeper sociological context for the characters' coming-of-age experiences depicted so movingly in the film Au Revoir les Enfants.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Au Revoir les Enfants based on a true story?
Yes, Au Revoir les Enfants is based on events from the childhood of writer and director Louis Malle. The film depicts a story of friendship and loss at a boarding school in Nazi-occupied France, drawing directly from the director's personal experiences during that period of history.
What is the primary setting of Au Revoir les Enfants?
The story of Au Revoir les Enfants takes place at a provincial Catholic boarding school located in Nazi-occupied France. The narrative follows two boys who develop a close camaraderie within the school until a secret is revealed, leading to a tragic awakening for the characters involved.
Does Au Revoir les Enfants focus on the experience of children during wartime?
Yes, Au Revoir les Enfants focuses on the experiences of two precocious youths living in Nazi-occupied France. The film explores themes of courage and cowardice through the perspective of these boys as they navigate their friendship and the devastating loss that occurs when their secret is uncovered.
What themes are explored in Au Revoir les Enfants?
Au Revoir les Enfants explores themes of friendship, courage, cowardice, and the loss of innocence. The film provides a precisely observed look at the impact of Nazi-occupied France on the lives of two boys at a Catholic boarding school, culminating in a tragic awakening for the characters.