The Children of Chabannes Review

Personal Issues: This film was incredible. I have always been very interested in the World War II period, and combining that with an untold story of a school that helps Jewish refugee children in France is a great way to grab a future teacher's attention. So much about this film hit home for me. What I really appreciated is that one of the co-directer's father and uncle are children of Chabannes. This film meant so much to her and it was very evident throughout the film. Not only does the film relfect on the fact that the small town in France opted to save over 400 jewish children. The film describes the everyday life of these children and teachers, and shows the fact that during this tragic and very dangerous time for the children that still enjoyed to laugh and simply be children. A main moment in the film is when a jewish teacher stands up for the school and what she believes and gets dismissed from the school by order of the French government. But this same teacher gives the school a tip off when the Germans come knocking on the school's doors with three buses ready to take the children to their assigned internment or death camps.

Technique: As the film was mostly interviews of historians, or adults who were children that survived during the war. There were so many great quotes and stories in this film, but my favorite was from a teacher who was speaking of the man who created the school: Felix Chevrier explaing why he chose to save these childrens' lives. "They are jewish. But before they are jewish they are children." There was no special effects, just simply interviews and the camera focusing on certain people speaking in pictures. I really liked the music they used when discribing the city of Chabannes. It seemed very country, and simple which is very similar to how the town his described. The films major strength is the story itself. Knowing that this story full focuses around children who had different stories and still learned to cooperate with each other.

Acting:The principle roles were not actual roles. They were simply interviews of people telling their stories of their past. Because most of the interviews were of survivors who were at Chabannes during its prime throughout the war their roles were very crucial and creditable.

Plot:This film is both very original and compelling. "A tale of courage, resilience and love set during WWII, The Children of Chabannes tells the story of how the people of Chabannes, a tiny village in unoccupied France, chose action over indifference and saved the lives of 400 Jewish refugee children. Filmmaker Lisa Gossels returns to Chabannes with her father and uncle, two of the 400 children who were saved. Through intimate interviews with her father and the other "children" of Chabannes, the filmmakers recreate the joys and fears of daily life in that village. We see how this oasis of hope is shattered in August of 1942, when the war reaches the doorsteps of the chateau where the children lived. Through accounts by the extraordinary teachers who taught and loved these children, this lyrical and moving film shows the remarkable efforts made by the citizens of Chabannes, who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect these children, simply because they felt it was the right thing to do." (http://www.childrenofchabannes.org/)

Themes: Clearly the main theme through the film is the saving of Jewish people, and how a small town in "unoccupied" France stands against Nazi Germany. But another theme laced throughout the movie is the fact the it is possible for humans to be so different and live together peacefully. Many of the children came from various places of the world all being taught by the same teacher and they ended up at the same place to be saved. Another hidden message in the film that makes a great stamp at the end of the film is how much one person can change the lives of others. Felix Chevrier chose to save these children, therefore he saved the lives of 400 children, many who went on to become very successful after the war. Also the teacher who was dismissed from the school by order of the French government, helped saved the children by tipping off the school with information of the next Nazi raid that was going to come to Chabannes.

Genre: This film has won multiple award as a historical documentry and as a Jewish film. I feel that many documentries are created the same way this was made: a narrator, interviews of those who were involved, historians and pictures that the camera focuses in and out on while listening to the plot. Although I am not sure of films it resembles, but Felix Chevrier's bravery of being a non-jewish man going against German beliefs is very similar to Oskar Schindler in the movie Schindler's List.

Represenation: The main focus of this film is to show the differences of decision people make throughout this dangerous time of war. I fully believe that the film was not created to show people is a dark or encouraging light on purpose but it tells facts.  

Ideology: Obviously the cultural beliefs is saving Jewish children from the Nazi death camps. This was confirmed and accomplished by telling their stories about their experiences before, during and after their time at Chabannes.