Forbidden Games, 1952

I love finding obscure little foreign films, and this one is an absolute
jewel! Actually, it's not really that obscure, but it was totally new to
me. The title Jeux Interdits in French might be appropriate, but in
English, Forbidden Games is a bit misleading. The plot has nothing
to do with sex or any forbidden activity, but is about a young girl,
orphaned by a Nazi air attack as her family flees Paris. She is taken
in by a provincial family who loses a family member, after he is
kicked by a horse in the same air attack. The children steal crosses
from the local cemetery, in order to cope with death, by building a
secret graveyard, where they bury her dog and other animals. The
acting on the part of the children is absolutely superb. The film is
also notable for its vibrant musical score, composed and performed
by legendary Spanish classical guitarist Narciso Yepes. It has been
beautifully restored and is available as part of the luminous Criterion
Collection. This delicate, intensely poignant and delightful film is a
must see. Do yourself a favor and add it to your Netflix queue!



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This video clip without subtitles is the only one I could find. The
Criterion Collection copy has optional subtitles, of course.