The Wild Child [DVD]

I became aware of this film while reading Anne Gillain's interesting book about Truffaut. I reviewed some of the controversy about stories of children such as Victor of Aveyron, who grew up outside human culture, but it is the human interest of the story that really matters. I enjoyed this film very much. Although I generally dislike voiceovers, they worked well for this film because Dr. Itard's scientific interest couldn't be communicated more effectively in any other way. One might ask why Truffaut would be interested in this story, unique among his films because it is without complex and morally ambiguous human relationships. Truffaut ran away from home near the age of 12 - Victor's age when he was found. Like Victor, and like all of us, he underwent the process of becoming civilized with considerable reluctance. What a great theme! Joy of nature opposed to the unnatural restraints of civilization. One thing in this film is extraordinary: the performance of the "young gypsy" Jean-Pierre Cargol as Victor was unbelievably good. According to the Wiki, Truffaut took the part of Dr. Itard so that he could work more closely with Jean-Pierre. If this strategem enabled this wonderful performance, it was a great inspiration, since Cargol's performance itself is a sufficient reason to see the film.

I found this very interesting, especially since I teach learning theory. For me, it kind of falls between being a drama and factual. I'm not sure which way to take it, so it ends up not being useful to use in class. But it was interesting.

I consider this my intro of Truffaut as a filmmaker/actor, after seeing him in Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". It's been a long time since my first viewing. But the principal figure is willing to pull no punches to turn a wild child into a model citizen. Especially to keep him from becoming or staying a side-show attraction. That includes discipline and laying ground rules. After all, people, no matter how slow catch on or quick to leap from bush to bush, tree to tree, are not stories or trophies. Certainly NOT freaks. "The Elephant Man" after this picture tells as much--only with the titular figure speaking; small difference. And all children need guidance, encouragement, and restraint. No special treatment (exemptions) for anyone. So far so good, Monsieur Truffaut.

The topic was fascinating to me. I would have liked the film to go into more detail about the Wild Child's life and why he couldn't speak. I am studying Maria Montessori and her method and the whole subject of sensitive periods is very significant.

I love this movie and the times in which it was made. I liked the wording of the dialogues in this movie. Even when the movie was made it was perfectly acceptable to write or speak the phrase "deaf and dumb" in the same sentence. This movie was released back in 1970. I am surprised that this movie did not receive an Oscar award. Especially for a twelve year old Jean-Pierre Cargol (a lot smaller than a horse jockey). I liked watching this boy's progressive language development and learning of various basic skills like setting a table. It was interesting to see him learn French. French of course is hard enough to learn even for the average person, let alone someone who was developmentally disabled like the boy who played Victor. Like I always say for movies first rent, then buy if you like it.

Truffaut's stark, decidedly unromanticized film, based on the true story of a feral child discovered in 18th-century France, offers an enlightening picture of the fate of such enfants sauvages -- whether rural or urban. I use it in my Language Acquisition class, to demonstrate the importance of a child's immersion in a language community during the crucial years between birth and 7; like "Victor" in the film, a child who is not introduced to language during this period is at risk for developing normal language skills. Truffaut's theatrical film, plus the Nova documentary "The Secrets of the Wild Child" provide insight into this chilling phenomenon.

The rating I gave is because I really cannot remember the movie. Thus I gave it an "It"s okay" review.

Esta película refleja una realidad social a través de un experimento social. Bastante recomendada.

Some of the current reviews posted in [...] ( James Koch, Christopher Langford, Ted Byrd) give the impression that this is an interesting minor work among the oeuvres of a great master of the cinema. Compliments such as 'lesser masterpiece' have been doled out grudgingly. And yet for me, this is Truffaut's greatest achievement. His absorption with childhood and development was the mainspring for several of his early films, but coaching Jean-Pierre Leaud to behave like Antoine Donel must have been child's play compared with the tour de force that he has drawn from Jean-Pierre Cargol. If there is any greater performance by an actor of his years in the entire annals of the cinema, I would like to hear someone come forth with the nomination. Truffaut himself (in the role of Dr Itard) turns in a performance of restrained sincerity and compassion that acts as a wonderful foil to that of his young prodigy. Of all the directors at work during the last three decades of the 20th Century, none brought to the screen anything like Truffaut's humanity -- a universal love of mankind that contrasted with the political polemics of Godard, Mike Leigh, Lindsay Anderson, Pasolini, Von Trier and dozens of other leftists who showed sympathy only for those whose cause advanced their own distorted prejudices. For me, this film passionately proclaims the worth and spirituality of all human flesh, and our obligation to respect the dignity and the needs of our fellow men, irrespective of their position in the social, economic and evolutionary scales. As such, it ranks as the greatest lesson in true morality to come from an industry that has spent most of its effort and garnered most of its material rewards from destroying these values and reducing mankind to its lowest common denominator. The technical quality of this DVD is very satisfactory. The fact that it has a kind of antique feel to it is all to the good, and enhances its overall authenticity. Let us hope that the desire for a more modern version voiced by one reviewer is never granted.

Ce film de 1969 en noir et blanc de moins de 90 minutes n’est pas du tout spectaculaire. Toutefois, réalisé par François Truffaut qui joue également le rôle-pivot, il est très efficace pour rendre l’histoire réelle d’un enfant trouvé au tournant du 19e siècle et surtout pour susciter la réflexion sur l’acquis et l’inné, la nature de la « civilisation », la pédagogie, etc.Dans un rôle essentiellement muet, le jeune acteur joue incroyablement bien, de manière naturelle et convaincante. Cela témoigne de son talent mais aussi certainement de celui du réalisateur. Ce dernier multiplie les éléments subtils qui augmentent, à petit budget, la portée du film. Ainsi, aucune musique de fond n’est présente tant que l’enfant est en milieu sauvage. Par la suite, des airs de Vivaldi, éminemment policés, sont introduits aux moments stratégiques.Voilà un film remarquable à recommander à tous.