Au Revoir les Enfants (1987) – Filming Locations
Drama / War · Directed by Louis Malle · Starring Gaspard Manesse, Francine Racette
Au revoir les enfants tells a heartbreaking story of friendship and devastating loss concerning two boys living in Nazi-occupied France. At a provincial Catholic boarding school, the precocious youths enjoy true camaraderie—until a secret is revealed. Based on events from writer-director Malle’s own childhood, the film is a subtle, precisely observed tale of courage, cowardice, and tragic awakening.
Where was Au Revoir les Enfants filmed?
- Saint-Junien, France, Saint-Junien – The entire boarding school setting where the boys study, play, and live; core location for the film's narrative. A real Catholic boarding school in the Haute-Vienne region that served as the primary location, chosen by Malle for its authentic period atmosphere and architecture that matched his childhood memories
- Saint-Junien, France, Saint-Junien – Boys play games, interact during breaks, and engage in daily school life activities. The outdoor spaces where much of the boys' interaction unfolds, essential to establishing the school's community and routines
- Saint-Junien, France, Saint-Junien – Intimate scenes of the boys in their living quarters, classrooms, and the school chapel; where relationships deepen. Interior locations within the school building where the emotional core of the film develops, particularly the friendship between Julien and Jean
- Haute-Vienne, France, Saint-Junien – Outdoor excursions where students go on walks and interact in natural settings. The rural French landscape surrounding the school, used for pastoral scenes that contrast with the tension building throughout the narrative