Customer Reviews

Zero for Conduct

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jean Vigo excels in presenting life as a sort of surreal dream, with bits of humanity scattered throughout. In 'Zero In Conduct', it seems he finally gets to live out a fantasy of childhood rebellion, probably one in which many have shared. There are many beautiful and innovative shots, including the gorgeous slow-motion march through the falling feathers. It occurred to me that Francois Truffaut may have seen this film before he made 'The 400 Blows'. Highly recommended for fans of 'L'Atalante', however the 'International Film Series' version sold here at Amazon is a very low-quality print, so be careful.

Imagine a film directed by a small child who was also a cinematic genius, or by a Martian who had never seen a movie except "L'Age D'Or" and the complete works of Charlie Chaplin ...

"Zero de Conduite" is the most authentic picture of the world of childhood ever committed to celluloid: luminous, surreal, shocking, lyrical, sensual, rebellious, innocent, cruel, and very funny. It's really impossible to describe - but see it, and you'll dream it for the rest of your life.

If you love it, rush out in search of "L'Atalante", the only other feature Vigo made before his early death.

This is the best film about the beauty of revolt. The pillow fight scene is the best, and I might add that this film made my school years .... much more understandable, as well as bareable. I presume viewers will feel the same.

"Zero in conduct" was the first film that combined hilarity supported by an immense love, and tenderness to the childhood stages, focusing around four terrible infants whose capers are the central nerve of this tribute to the children; children of the world, children of Clement( Forbidden games), children of Truffaut (The 400 blows), children of Malle (Goodbye to the children).

There have been other approaches around the world, painful, optimistic and even tragic, but only the French cinematography has been able to express with such touch of class, the childish psychology with such display of poetry, creativity and freshness.

Based on Vigo 's personal childhood experiences, this admirable, beloved and poetic work constitutes a superb and precise outlaw portrait of a boarding school. Vigo creates a claustrophobic world filled of tension in which the petty tyrannies of the school regime stand in sharp relief against the natural fantasy and tender delirium of the children. There is a lot of psychological insights, this landmark was banned in France until 1946.

If you really want to start a anthological collection, you must not ignore this milestone picture that in certain way would anticipate the French New Wave and influenced a countless films.

Jean Vigo was a monumental talent who missed too soon. His filmic heritage were just only two films, but his grandness is acknowledged all over the world and specially by the French Cinema that reserved every year a Festival in his memory.

A genius who shines with own light in the Universe of the supreme Gods of the Cinema