migitano I saw this wonderful film in two versions when it was first released. The first was with sub- titles, and in the second English was dubbed in. The sub-title version was much better, as it more closely followed the actual language used. But I thoroughly enjoyed the film on both occasions, and later added a copy to my collection.The performances of the boys was uniformly superb, and the "war" progressed naturally and logically to its inevitable disastrous conclusion. I was, as I am sure everyone was, totally captivated by the performance of little Martin Lartigue as Petit Gibus, the smallest member of Lebrac's gang. I will never forget his checking of his "qualifications" for leading the gang, and his sad conclusion that he would "Never be the leader!"All in all this is a delightful film which I still enjoy watching as much as I did when I first saw it.

pauls-room From the moment José Berghmans wonderful music loudly bursts through the opening credits, and we see the French countryside spread out before us, the scene is set for some comedic kid's action. And the film doesn't fail in its presentation of kid's war games as adventures of childhood than the adult realities. Full of French flavour and populated with excitable adults and children, it's a hilarious picture of how children play together. The penalty for being captured is the loss of all your buttons and the method of one gang to avoid this is a hoot! I watched it without sub-titles and although I don't speak French, it still had me in fits of laughter. Petit Gibus is so funny when, plied with Calvados, he gets very drunk and very merry. This is a film that belies the fact that films need computer graphics and violence to be watchable. This film recalls an era when simples games and adventures were all that were needed to fill your days.

dbdumonteil Yves Robert died a few days back and I write this comment as a tribute to him:"la guerre des boutons" is a timeless brats movie,which can be watched forty years after with the same pleasure:a blockbuster when it was released in France in 1961,French kids enjoy it at least as much as their parents or grandparents today.Of course,Louis Pergaud's Rabelaisian novel,written at the beginning of last century, was watered down (but not cheapened),or else it would not have been accepted by the censorship:there are lines in this book that would make blush the well-meanings.The words are crude and not prudish at all.The story was much more than a funny joke though:actually,the children aped the grown-ups and THEIR wars:("to think,that later,we will be as stupid as'em!"-this is the last line of the movie).Yves Robert transposed the action to the rural sixties.He gathered lots and lots of children whom he directed masterfully."Magna cum laude",first class honours,for young "Petit Gibus"!anyone who watches the movie will love him:he's so funny when he gets drunk!Shot in black and white,the movie will remind you of your schooldays.Louis Pergaud died in 1915.The war he was waging was not a war of the buttons.

Wrangler A real delight. Wistfully nostalgic for the innocence and inspired creativity of childhood. Hilarious in parts. Why is this such an obscure film?