A Child in the Crowd

The film opens with seven-year-old Paul being dropped off in the middle of the night at a religious boarding school on the eve of World War II. He is separated from his parents and begins a difficult, solitary path. The setting establishes themes of abandonment and discipline that haunt him as he grows.

Years later, after his mother divorces his father, Paul returns to live with his cold-hearted mother in Nazi-occupied France. He is thirteen years old and already emotionally distant, further isolating himself from the people around him. The strained home life contributes to his later restlessness.

During the occupation, Paul skips school and wanders the streets, seeking connection in an unstable world. He becomes involved in errands for German soldiers, who reward him with cigarettes and small gifts. The episodes reveal a troubled youth contending with danger and desire.

In a street scene under occupation, Paul witnesses a brutal anti-collaborationist purge. The crowd’s chants and the public humiliation expose the violence of the era. The moment marks a stark shift in his perception of power and conformity.

With the Liberation of France, Paul becomes involved with the French Resistance. He moves from street survival into active resistance activities and the changing political landscape.

Liberation brings Paul into contact with American soldiers who take him under their wing. They offer companionship and small comforts, such as chocolate and cigarettes, providing a respite from his precarious life.

After the war, Paul continues to form attachments with adults and navigates the complexities of coming of age in a shifting society. He begins to consider his future beyond the streets of Paris.

Inspired by his experiences and ambitions, Paul decides to pursue an acting career, setting his sights on the stage and screen.

The film culminates with Paul preparing to become an extra in Marcel Carné's Les Enfants du Paradis, signaling a shift toward a life in cinema.

In an uncredited cameo, a stranger asks Paul for a light in the street. The man is Gérard Blain, the director, blurring the line between the film and its creator.

The film’s depictions echo Blain’s own life, including abandonment, early independence, and a turn toward acting. This meta-layer grounds the narrative in personal history.

The closing moment returns to a simple human exchange—Paul sharing a light with a stranger as he stands on the street, ready to step toward his future.