Skip to content
Forbidden Games
A haunting black-and-white elegy where childhood innocence constructs a sanctuary of shadows. Amidst the carnage of war, a secret cemetery becomes a tender yet macabre refuge for a world in ruins.
Forbidden Games
Forbidden Games

Jeux interdits

"War ... and how it affects the lives of our children"

09 May 1952 France 87 min 7.8 (337)

Director: René Clément

Cast: Brigitte Fossey, Georges Poujouly, Philippe de Chérisey, Laurence Badie, Suzanne Courtal

Drama War The Loss of Innocence Ritual as a Coping Mechanism Adult Hypocrisy and Pettiness The Cruelty of Institution
Box Office: $10,188

Forbidden Games — Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

Michel! Michel! Michel!
— Paulette

Context

The closing scene where Paulette is left alone in a Red Cross camp and runs into a crowd, calling for the only person who understood her grief.

Meaning

One of the most heart-wrenching endings in cinema, these cries signify the final loss of Paulette's only connection to the world and her total abandonment by society.

Ils ne sont pas méchants, les morts.
— Paulette

Context

A conversation during the children's rituals where Paulette explains why she wants to stay near the graves.

Meaning

Translating to "The dead are not mean," it highlights the child's perspective that the deceased are to be cared for and befriended rather than feared.

Il faut faire un petit cimetière pour mon chien.
— Paulette

Context

Spoken to Michel shortly after they meet, setting the plot in motion.

Meaning

Establishes the central premise of the children's game as a direct response to the lack of mourning for those killed in the war.

Explore More About This Movie

Dive deeper into specific aspects of the movie with our detailed analysis pages

Similar Movies