The Wild Child
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DVD Cover Information Actor: Annie Miller, Francois Truffaut, Franoise Seigner, Jean Dast, Jean-Pierre Cargol Director: Francois Truffaut Brand: TRUFFAUT,FRANCOIS Writer: Francois Truffaut Writer: Jean Gruault Writer: Jean Itard DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen Picture Format: 1.66:1 Running Time: 83 minutes DVD Release Date: 2001-07-24 Audience Rating: G (General Audience) Studio: MGM (Video & DVD) |
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Movie Reviews of The Wild Child
Movie Review: Wild child - subdued movie.
Summary: 4 Stars
The Wild Child has such a mild and subdued tone overall that at times it seems to muffle even the chaotic screeches and chimp-like antics of the wild boy, Victor. Vivaldi's airy refined baroque harmonies imbue the story with the quaint elegance of an old-fashioned miniature painting. Even though the movie was filmed in black and white, the pastoral scenes suggest a world of vibrant color, but a very domesticated one. Truffaut's portrayal of Dr. Itard, the boy's teacher is a paragon of cultured respectability and good intentions. So is that of Madame Guerin, the doctor's housekeeper, who becomes Victor's surrogate mother. This wild child who was found naked in a forest, abandoned at an early age, could neither speak nor focus his attention any more than an animal. Against this wildness was brought to bear the genteel but insistent demand of Dr. Itard that Victor learn to function according to the civilized standards of France,circa 1799. Needless to say, this engendered a conflict between the good doctor and his young charge. But even this rebellion amongst broken dishes and bitten hands still seems somewhat restrained from the out-and-out total war that you might expect from such a confrontation. And there is no indication given of how the doctor and his housekeeper managed with getting Victor housebroken. The point I'm trying to make is that this seems to be a somewhat idealized account of a true story that would probably have been a little messier in reality. But when Truffaut decided to make this movie, he was no doubt impelled by a motive other than just creating a factual documentary. Its a good exploration of what makes us human. This story makes it clear that the determining factor is our early and continuous association with others of our kind. Humanity is not instinctual but must be passed on through the generations by instruction and example. And although civilization is not perfect(shown by the persecution of Victor by other more normal children)if we are isolated from it, we cannot rise above the level of animals. Still, Victor retains a wistful longing for the open wild, and one of the more memorable ,less subdued scenes is of Victor swaying hypnotically on the doctor's lawn and seemingly worshiping the moon. So, civilization comes at the cost of forfeiting some of the wild, spontaneous joy of an untamed existence. The Wild Child, though it seems a trifle remote because of its refined style, is a very well-intentioned film and is refreshingly free of the crassness and vulgarity that seem to be obligatory in today's Hollywood fare.