Au Revoir les Enfants
Au revoir les enfants tells a heartbreaking story of friendship and devastating loss concerning two boys living in Nazi-occupied France. At a provincial Catholic boarding school, the precocious youths enjoy true camaraderie—until a secret is revealed. Based on events from writer-director Malle’s own childhood, the film is a subtle, precisely observed tale of courage, cowardice, and tragic awakening.
Working with a tight budget of $3.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $4.5M in global revenue (+51% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Au Revoir les Enfants (1987) exemplifies meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Louis Malle's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Julien Quentin
Jean Bonnet (Jean Kippelstein)
Père Jean
François Quentin
Madame Quentin
Joseph
Müller
Main Cast & Characters
Julien Quentin
Played by Gaspard Manesse
An intelligent, wealthy Catholic boarding school student who befriends Jean Bonnet and gradually discovers his secret.
Jean Bonnet (Jean Kippelstein)
Played by Raphaël Fejtö
A Jewish boy hiding under a false identity at the boarding school, sensitive and intellectually gifted.
Père Jean
Played by Philippe Morier-Genoud
The compassionate headmaster of the school who risks his life to shelter Jewish children from the Nazis.
François Quentin
Played by Stanislas Carré de Malberg
Julien's older brother, more worldly and sophisticated, studying at the same boarding school.
Madame Quentin
Played by Francine Racette
Julien and François's mother, an elegant upper-class woman who visits her sons at school.
Joseph
Played by François Berléand
The kitchen worker at the school who is fired for theft and later collaborates with the Gestapo.
Müller
Played by Peter Fitz
The Gestapo officer who arrests Père Jean and the Jewish students after Joseph's betrayal.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Julien says goodbye to his mother at the train station, returning to boarding school after Christmas break. He is privileged, protected, and innocent of the darker realities of occupied France.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Jean Bonnet arrives as one of the new students. He is withdrawn, secretive, and clearly different. Julien notices his strange behavior immediately—this outsider will disrupt the comfortable social order.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Gestapo agents visit the school to inspect papers. The tension is unbearable. Though they leave without incident, the false sense of safety is shattered—the danger is real and closing in., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Gestapo returns to the school. Julien accidentally glances at Jean when the agent demands to know if anyone is hiding Jews. That single look betrays his friend. Jean, two other Jewish boys, and Father Jean are arrested., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Julien watches the truck carry Jean away. There is no rescue, no reversal. He crosses into permanent knowledge—that evil exists, that he witnessed it, and that his innocence is irretrievable., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Au Revoir les Enfants's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Au Revoir les Enfants against these established plot points, we can identify how Louis Malle utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Au Revoir les Enfants within the drama genre.
Louis Malle's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Louis Malle films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Au Revoir les Enfants takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Louis Malle filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Louis Malle analyses, see Damage, Atlantic City and Pretty Baby.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Julien says goodbye to his mother at the train station, returning to boarding school after Christmas break. He is privileged, protected, and innocent of the darker realities of occupied France.
Theme
Father Jean tells the students that three new boys are joining them and they must treat them like brothers. This subtle statement carries the film's theme: our responsibility to protect the vulnerable, and what silence means in the face of evil.
Worldbuilding
Life at the Catholic boarding school during German occupation. Julien's world of competitive friendships, black market trading, air raid drills, and childhood cruelties. The war exists but feels distant.
Disruption
Jean Bonnet arrives as one of the new students. He is withdrawn, secretive, and clearly different. Julien notices his strange behavior immediately—this outsider will disrupt the comfortable social order.
Resistance
Julien observes Jean with suspicion and curiosity. Jean refuses to shower with others, prays differently, and keeps to himself. Julien oscillates between bullying and fascination, not yet ready to bridge the gap.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Julien and Jean become close friends, sharing books, music, and confidences. They navigate the complexities of boyhood friendship against the backdrop of occupation—moments of normalcy punctuated by reminders of danger.
Midpoint
Gestapo agents visit the school to inspect papers. The tension is unbearable. Though they leave without incident, the false sense of safety is shattered—the danger is real and closing in.
Opposition
The external pressure intensifies. Collaboration and resistance create moral complexity. Joseph, the kitchen worker, is fired for black market dealings. Julien's friendship with Jean deepens even as the threat grows.
Collapse
The Gestapo returns to the school. Julien accidentally glances at Jean when the agent demands to know if anyone is hiding Jews. That single look betrays his friend. Jean, two other Jewish boys, and Father Jean are arrested.
Crisis
The boys are lined up in the courtyard to witness the arrests. Father Jean tells them goodbye and to continue praying. Julien watches helplessly as Jean is taken away, understanding the enormity of what has happened.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Julien watches the truck carry Jean away. There is no rescue, no reversal. He crosses into permanent knowledge—that evil exists, that he witnessed it, and that his innocence is irretrievable.
Synthesis
The aftermath. The school year continues without Jean. Julien must live with what happened, carrying both the memory of friendship and the guilt of his inadvertent betrayal.
Transformation
Adult Julien's voiceover reveals that Jean died at Auschwitz and Father Jean at Mauthausen. Over forty years later, he still remembers them. The innocent boy is gone; in his place is a man forever marked by witness and loss.