The cinematic enfant terrible rule breaking children and teenagers in French cinema Karolina Westling

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Westling, Karolina, author.

Contributor:

Bloomsbury (Firm), publisher.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Motion pictures--France--History.

Motion pictures.

Youth in motion pictures.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (272 pages)

Edition:

1st edition

Place of Publication:

New York Bloomsbury Academic 2025

Summary:

The Cinematic Enfant Terrible is a groundbreaking study of rule breakers in French cinema. The book approaches the concept of the enfant terrible in the literal sense of the term - young people labelled 'terrible' (awful) by the adult generation. It explores a rich cinematic tradition from Jean Vigo's Z&&&&&ro de conduite (1933) and Fran&&&&ois Truffaut's Les Quatre cents coups (1959), to Catherine Breillat's 36 fillette (1988) and Ladj Ly's Les Mis&&&&&rables (2019). The book encompasses the cinematic enfants terribles across age groups and genders, addressing the differences between unruly boys and rebellious teenage girls. The early post-war focus on juvenile delinquency and sexual provocations diversifies into filles fatales and angry girls, but also precarious boys and parents terribles. The book charts the evolution of the enfant terrible concept from a negative label to a sympathetically-viewed figure of anti-authoritarian resistance, reflecting the changing position of children within the family in post-war France. The films address the ethical paradox of democratic upbringing - the dilemma of raising children to become obedient individuals with a mind of their own. The asymmetrical relationship between children and parents is seen as a tacit family contract that highlights the importance of an intergenerational perspective for the understanding of generational conflicts. Rebellious children and teenagers on screen are seen in the light of wider social transformations. The book clarifies the interplay between individual protests and cultural currents such as existentialism, feminism and ethnic conflicts. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of French culture and cinema, childhood and youth studies, gender studies and cultural studies

Contents:

List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. The Liberation of Forbidden Games

2. The Unruly Boy and the Failed Family Contract

3. The Terrible Teenage Girl and the Patriarchal Contract

4. The Empowerment of the Terrible Teenage Girl

5. Rule Breaking in the Banlieue

6. Highlighting Broken Family Contracts

Conclusion: Is This the End of the Enfant Terrible?

Bibliography

Websites

Filmography

Appendix: Enfants Terribles in French Cinema, 1945-2012, an Indicative Filmography

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references

Other Format:

Print version Westling, Karolina. The cinematic enfant terrible

ISBN:

9798765105467

OCLC:

1520506024

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license