Product Details

• Actors: Jean Daste, Robert Le Fion, Du veron
• Directors: Jean Vigo
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Timeless Multimedia
• VHS Release Date: December 1, 1994
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303184197
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,772 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's hard to believe that this fantastical tale of a schoolboy rebellion was banned in its native France for 12 years following its initial 1933 release (for supposed anti-French sentiment). Perhaps the French authorities were remembering director Jean Vigo's father, a famous French anarchist who died in prison, or just concerned that Vigo was revealing too much of his own unhappy youth spent in boarding schools. They needn't have worried. Zero in Conduct is much more a childhood fantasy than a social critique, focusing on three particularly naughty boys who are constantly being threatened with a "zero in conduct" for their bad behavior. The rebellion in question is no armed revolt but a raucous pillow fight and a few stones thrown from a roof, all to the chant "Down with teachers, down with school." Filmed in magical black and white by Boris Kaufman--winner of the Academy Award for cinematography in 1954 for On the Waterfront (and brother of filmmakers Mikhail Kaufman and Dziga Vertov)--Zero in Conduct is a film for film lovers. Jean Vigo died in 1935, when he was 29 years old, leaving behind only three films. But his influence, strongly evident here in the surrealism and fascinating early special effects (including a drawing that springs to life on the page), long outlives him. Each year a filmmaker with "independence of spirit and quality of directing" is honored with the French award in his name. --Laska Jimsen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, surreal view of the life of young children, October 28, 1999

By 

"tetsel" (Gloucester, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zero De Conduite [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strange and wonderful, April 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Zero De Conduite [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vigo = Genius, April 6, 1999

By 

Tosh Berman/TamTam Books - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zero De Conduite [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.