Small Change (film)
Encyclopedia
Small Change is a 1976
French film
directed by François Truffaut
. The title translates to "Pocket Money" from French, but since there was a Paul Newman
movie called Pocket Money
, Steven Spielberg
suggested the title Small Change for US release. In English-speaking countries outside North America the film is known as "Pocket Money". The film had a total of 1,810,280 admissions in France making it one of Truffaut's most successful films.
with a serious message, based around the daily lives of young children in Thiers, France. Scenes include a baby and a cat perilously playing on an open windowsill, a girl causing confusion with a bullhorn, a double date at the movie theater, a kid telling a dirty joke, a botched haircut, as well as many scenes about school life. Yet throughout this the difficulties and responsibilities faced by children appear, including the ongoing story of a boy's experience of an abusive home. Truffaut gives a message of resilience in the face of injustice, vocalized through one of the teachers. The story ends with a message of hope, the school closing for the summer vacation, and one of the key characters finding his first love at a summer camp.
Most of the characters were not professional actors.
Adults
of the New York Times called Small Change, "an original, a major work in minor keys" and Pauline Kael
described it as , "that rarity, a poetic comedy that's really funny." Roger Ebert
named it his favorite of the year, calling it a "magical film" and singled out the windowsill scene as "Truffaut at his best." Leonard Maltin
gave the movie four stars (out of four) and called it "wise, witty and perceptive." The film was also entered into the 26th Berlin International Film Festival
.
1976 in film
The year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
French film
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
directed by François Truffaut
François Truffaut
François Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five...
. The title translates to "Pocket Money" from French, but since there was a Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
movie called Pocket Money
Pocket Money
Pocket Money is a 1972 film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, from a screenplay written by Terrence Malick and based on the novel Jim Kane by Joseph P. Brown...
, Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
suggested the title Small Change for US release. In English-speaking countries outside North America the film is known as "Pocket Money". The film had a total of 1,810,280 admissions in France making it one of Truffaut's most successful films.
Plot
Small Change is a comedyComedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
with a serious message, based around the daily lives of young children in Thiers, France. Scenes include a baby and a cat perilously playing on an open windowsill, a girl causing confusion with a bullhorn, a double date at the movie theater, a kid telling a dirty joke, a botched haircut, as well as many scenes about school life. Yet throughout this the difficulties and responsibilities faced by children appear, including the ongoing story of a boy's experience of an abusive home. Truffaut gives a message of resilience in the face of injustice, vocalized through one of the teachers. The story ends with a message of hope, the school closing for the summer vacation, and one of the key characters finding his first love at a summer camp.
Most of the characters were not professional actors.
Cast
Children- Philippe Goldmann - Julien
- Bruno Staab - Bruno
- Geory Desmouceaux - Patrick
- Laurent Devlaeminck - Laurent
- Sylvie Grezel - Sylvie
- Pascale Bruchon - Martine
- Claudio Deluca - Mathieu
- Franck Deluca - Frank
- Sebastien Marc - Oscar
- Richard Golfier - Richard
Adults
- Nicole Félix - Grégory's mother (as Nicole Felix)
- Chantal Mercier - Chantal Petit, the Schoolteacher
- Jean-François StéveninJean-François StéveninJean-François Stévenin is a French actor. He has appeared in 150 films and television shows since 1968. He starred in the film Cold Moon, which was entered into the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* Out 1...
- Jean-François Richet, the Schoolteacher - Virginie ThévenetVirginie Thévenet-Films with Virginie Thévenet as actress:* 1970 : Les Stances de Sophie, by Moshé Mizrahi* 1972 : Faustine et le Bel Été* 1972 : Les Zozos, by Pascal Thomas, Martine* 1976 : Small Change, by François Truffaut...
- Lydie Richet - Tania Torrens - Nadine Riffle, hairdresser
- René Barnerias - Monsieur Desmouceaux, Patrick's father
- Katy Carayon - Sylvie's Mother
- Jean-Marie Carayon - Police inspector, Sylvie's father
- Annie Chevaldonne - Nurse
- Francis Devlaeminck - Monsieur Riffle, hairdresser, Laurent's father
- Michel Dissart - Monsieur Lomay, constable
- Michele Heyraud - Madame Deluca
- Paul Heyraud - Monsieur Deluca
- Jeanne Lobre - Julien's grandmother (as Jane Lobre)
- Vincent Touly - Concierge
Acclaim
When released, Small Change amassed critical acclaim. It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film. Vincent CanbyVincent Canby
Vincent Canby was an American film critic who became the chief film critic for The New York Times in 1969 and reviewed more than 1000 films during his tenure there.-Life and career:...
of the New York Times called Small Change, "an original, a major work in minor keys" and Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael was an American film critic who wrote for The New Yorker magazine from 1968 to 1991. Earlier in her career, her work appeared in City Lights, McCall's and The New Republic....
described it as , "that rarity, a poetic comedy that's really funny." Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
named it his favorite of the year, calling it a "magical film" and singled out the windowsill scene as "Truffaut at his best." Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
gave the movie four stars (out of four) and called it "wise, witty and perceptive." The film was also entered into the 26th Berlin International Film Festival
26th Berlin International Film Festival
The 26th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 25 to July 6, 1976.-Jury:* Jerzy Kawalerowicz * Hannes Schmidt* Marjorie Bilbow* Michel Ciment* Guido Cinotti* Georgi Daneliya* Wolf Hart* Bernard R...
.