A Child in the Crowd

Paul is the film’s central figure, a boy who endures neglect from his mother after a divorce and a distant father. He spends nights at a religious boarding school and roams the streets of Paris seeking affection from older men, sometimes acting as an errand boy for German soldiers who reward him with cigarettes and small gifts. During the Liberation, he aligns with the French Resistance and later with American soldiers, finding companionship in a dangerous world. After the war, Paul pursues acting, ultimately aiming to become an extra in Marcel Carné’s Les Enfants du Paradis.

Paul’s mother is described as cold-hearted and emotionally distant, especially after the divorce from Paul’s father. She struggles to connect with him, contributing to his sense of abandonment. Her detachment shapes Paul’s longing for warmth and approval throughout the story.

Paul’s father is a distant figure whose absence is felt after the divorce. His lack of involvement reinforces Paul’s feeling of being unwanted and alone. The fractured parental relationship frames much of Paul’s early behavior and search for affection.

Micheline is Paul’s sister in adolescence, sharing the family turmoil and the shifting dynamics of post-divorce life. Her presence highlights the strain within the household and the way siblings navigate a parentally strained environment. She represents the teenage perspective amidst chaos.

Young Micheline appears as part of the early family structure, illustrating the different stages of childhood within the same household. Her interactions with Paul reflect the competing pressures of family and growing up during a troubled era.

The School Director runs the religious boarding school where Paul is first dropped off, embodying the stern authority of the institution. He represents the formal, disciplinary aspect of Paul’s early environment. His presence underscores the contrast between institutional control and Paul’s informal search for connection.

La maîtresse is an adult figure encountered in the school setting, contributing to the environment of discipline and order. Her role places emphasis on the adult world surrounding Paul and the expectations placed upon him. She is part of the broader network of authority in the story.

Gilles is a male figure encountered in Paul’s life during the years of occupation and street life. He embodies one of the older male presences that influence Paul’s relationships and sense of safety. The character's interactions contribute to Paul’s understanding of love and risk in a dangerous city.

Laurent is another adult path that Paul encounters, reflecting the unstable and sometimes exploitative networks surrounding him. His interactions illustrate the complex and ambiguous relationships Paul navigates as a young person in a time of upheaval. Laurent contributes to Paul’s evolving perception of trust and protection.