Figure 1.-- The movie 'Le Petit Nicolas' (Little Nicholas) was a captivating film about a French school boy and his mates. It was based on a series of French children's books authored by René Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé. The books first appeared (1959). At the time it was set in the time period depicted. The film retains that 1950s setting. The charming books depict an idealized French childhood. It is seen from the chikld's point of view, a little like a trend began in America and Brutain. Strangely, the boys seem dressed more like English than French school boys. None of the boys wear smocks which were still very common in the 1950s. The blazers and suits seem rather British. :

The movie 'Le Petit Nicolas' (Little Nicholas) was a captivating film about a French school boy and his mates. It was based on a series of French children's books authored by René Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé. It first appeared (1959). At the time it was set in the time period depicted. The film retains that 1950s setting. The charming books depict an idealized French childhood, a little like a trend began in America: Peck's Bad Boy and Perod followed in Britain by Our William and the Jennings series. Nicolas seemm a little more innocent and less mischivious, perhaps relcting better behavior expected in France. The series began a little earlier as a comic strip in the Belgian magazine Le Moustique (1956 and 1958). It was the work of the illustrator Sempé and written by Goscinny. Goscinny began to write 'Le Petit Nicholas' as short storries illustrated by Sempé. An English edition with the title Young Nicolas was completed by Stella Rodway for Hutchinson & Co. (1961). The books were published in the United States (1962). The characters' names for the most part retain the French form. Part of the charm of the series is that they are told from the point of view of Nicolas, of course the main character in a way that mimics how a boy would actually tell the story with a genrous dose of captivating schoolyard slang. And like the American and British books, many of the story lines are based on how Nicolas misunderstands adults. It was moving toward the now standard modern children's literature based on child's interpretation of the world which we do not see in the earlier classics. We do not see the film version until (2009). It was directed by Grégoire Vigneron and Alain Chabat. Nicolas is nicely played by Maxime Godart. It was well received by critics and had an excellent box office. As in the books, the film is set in 1950s Paris. Nicolas and his school friends get into all kinds of mischief, both intentional and unintentional. The film like the books version centers on how Nicolas, an only child. In the film, he gets the idea that his mother is going to have a baby. He is uncertain about the idea of having a baby brother. (For some reason he assumes it will be a boy.) At school, a friend who has a baby brother tells him how bad it is. Nicolas decided that his parents no longer want him. He and his school mate devise a plot to raise 500 francs to hire a kidnapper and leave the baby in a far-away jungle. Strangely, the boys seem dressed more like English than French school boys. None of the boys wear smocks which were still very common in the 1950s. The blazers and suits seem rather British. A British reader tells us, "This ia a very funny film. It is full of slap stick situations. The best of these is the one where heavy weights have been attached to a camper van. They make a foul tasting magic potion to give the person super strengh. The child who falls for the scam drinks the potion and then is asked to push the vehicle over. He does this and thinks he has super strength. The scam is discovered and the boys run away. I substituted for the French teacher when she fell ill. I used this film to teach her lession and it was one of the best lessons the class had had. The teacher thought well of the lesson too. There is a sequel film about little Nichols going on holiday. It is not quite so funny though. The irony of the experience was that I am not very good at speaking French."

The Books

It was based on a series of French children's books authored by René Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé. The books It first appeared (1959). At the time it was set in the time period depicted. The charming books depict an idealized French childhood, a little like a trend began in America: Peck's Bad Boy and Perod followed in Britain by Our William and the Jennings series. Nicolas seemm a little more innocent and less mischivious, perhaps relcting better behvioir expected in France. The series began a little earlier as a comic strip in the Belgian magazine Le Moustique (1956 and 1958). It was the work of the illustrator Sempé and written by Goscinny. The illustrations asre very simply sketched outy. Goscinny began to write 'Le Petit Nicholas' as short storries illutrated by Sempé. An English edition with the title Young Nicolas was completed by Stella Rodway for Hutchinson & Co. (1961). The books were published in the United States (1962). The characters' names for the most part retain the French form.

The Film

The movie 'Le Petit Nicolas' (Little Nicholas) was a captivating film about a French school boy and his mates. We do not see the film version until (2009). It was directed by Grégoire Vigneron and Alain Chabat. It was well received by critics and had an excellent box office.

Perspective

Part of the charm of the series is that they are told from the point of view of Nicolas, of course the main character in a way that mimics how a boy would actually tell the story with a genrous dose of captivating schoolyard slang. And like the American and British books, many of the story lines are based on how Nicolas misunderstands adults. It was moving toward the now standard modern children's literature based on child's interpretation of the world which we do not see in the earlier classics.

Cast

Nicolas is nicely played by Maxime Godart.

Setting

The film retains that 1950s setting. As in the books, the film is set in 1950s Paris.

Plot

Nicolas and his school friends get into all kinds of mischief, both intentional and unintentional. The film like the books version centers on how Nicolas, an only child. In the film, he gets the idea that his mother is going to have a baby. He is uncertain about the idea of having a baby brother. (For some reason he assumes it will be a boy.) At school, a friend who has a baby brother tells him how bad it is. Nicolas decided that his parents no longer want him. He and his school mate devise a plot to raise 500 francs to hire a kidnapper and leave the baby in a far-away jungle--perhaps thinking of Tarzan.

Costuming

Strangely, the boys seem dressed more like English than French school boys. None of the boys wear smocks which were still very common in the 1950s. The blazers and suits seem rather British.

Reader Comments

A British reader tells us, "This ia a very funny film. It is full of slap stick situations. The best of these is the one where heavy weights have been attached to a camper van. They make a foul tasting magic potion to give the person super strengh. The child who falls for the scam drinks the potion and then is asked to push the vehicle over. He does this and thinks he has super strength. The scam is discovered and the boys run away. I substituted for the French teacher when she fell ill. I used this film to teach her lession and it was one of the best lessons the class had had. The teacher thought well of the lesson too. There is a sequel film about little Nichols going on holiday. It is not quite so funny though. The irony of the experience was that I am not very good at speaking French."

Created: 4:55 PM 5/6/2022
Last updated: 2:22 PM 5/7/2022