Jeux Interdits (Forbidden Games) Rene Clement, 1952
Jeux Interdits (Forbidden Games) is one of the first films to ever depict the emotional toll of warfare, especially for children. Unlike most war trauma films, the focus here is placed on children living in a warzone. During German bombing of France in 1940, 5-year-old Paulette’s (Brigitte Fossey) family is killed and she is left orphaned. She is taken in by Michel (Georges Poujouly) and his family. She and Michel, who is 10, are each having trouble dealing with the death and destruction around them.
