The Boy Soldier

1981 1h 58m FR

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 21

DramaWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the 1930s a young fellow, Simon Chalumet, is sent to a military school by his overbearing father, an ex-soldier who has little sympathy for his son's more gentle temperament, or for his interest in films.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Lucas Belvaux
Simon Chalumot
Jean Carmet
L'adjudant Chalumot
Jean-Pierre Aumont
Commandant Félix
Jean-François Stévenin
Sergent Billotet
Jacques Denis
Brizoulet
Evelyn Cotton
Soeur Béatrice
Daniel Mesguich
Capitaine Mourre
Jean-Pol Dubois
Capitaine des Aubelles

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Yves Boisset
Writers: Jacques Kirsner, Yves Boisset
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Yves Boisset, shot by Pierre-William Glenn. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Philippe Sarde. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Albert Jurgenson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Lucas Belvaux and Jean Carmet and Jean-Pierre Aumont carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0080355 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 21 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Yves Boisset directs. Pierre-William Glenn behind the camera. Philippe Sarde scores. Albert Jurgenson cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Yves Boisset, shot by Pierre-William Glenn. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Philippe Sarde. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Albert Jurgenson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Lucas Belvaux and Jean Carmet and Jean-Pierre Aumont carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0080355 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 21 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.