One of the great movies about World War Two and the German occupation, this semi-autobiographical film, set in January 1944 at an exclusive Catholic boarding school outside Fontainebleau, is the key work director Louis Malle waited 42 years to make. This richly detailed, immaculately acted film traces the friendship between two 12-year-olds, one from a wealthy Catholic family through whose eyes the events are seen, the other a Jewish boy hidden by the priests, his identity concealed. It’s about childhood, friendship, betrayal, and how to understand a confused world: the boys are never sentimentalised – instead, there is an authentic mood of unspoken suspicions and everyday secrecy. The infinitely moving final words are spoken on the soundtrack by Malle himself, looking back over the years to a moment he – or us – will never forget.

Conversations About Cinema: Impact of Conflict

Last year's commemoration of the start of World War I was cause for reflection on the scale and impact of that war and the immense global repercussions which still ripple 100 years later. The impact of a war, any war, is not confined to its dates, but goes far wider, far deeper, across people, society, places and politics. Impact of Conflict is a new strand where we will explore these effects through screenings, events and publishing - it is all about the opportunity for you to share your responses.

• Dr Martin Hurcombe, Reader in French Studies University of Bristol, will introduce the 17:40 screening on Thu 5 Feb and host an informal conversation on the film in the Café/Bar from 19:50 onwards. A ticket for this screening will get you 10% off drinks and items from our shared menu, so grab a drink or something to eat and let us know know your thoughts on Au Revoir Les Enfants.
• You can also post your thoughts on our noticeboard or tweet using #convocinema or @wshed.

Ticket prices: Screenings before 16:00: £5.50 full / £4.00 concessions. Screenings after 16:00: £8.00 full / £6.50 concessions.

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