Zero for Conduct (1933)

Synopsis: With ZERO FOR CONDUCT, French director Jean Vigo's (L'ATALANTE) sophomore film, he follows up his social documentary A PROPOS DE NICE. En route to boarding school, mischievous students Caussat... With ZERO FOR CONDUCT, French director Jean Vigo's (L'ATALANTE) sophomore film, he follows up his social documentary A PROPOS DE NICE. En route to boarding school, mischievous students Caussat (Louis Lefebvre), Colin (Gilbert Pruchon), and Druel (Coco Golstein) joyfully while away their last hours of freedom. Sour teacher Pète-Sec (Robert Le Flon), however, soon quashes all fun by giving a "zero for conduct" grade to the boys for their dormitory escapades. Pète-Sec seems out to get the boys, but they have an ally in new teacher Huguet (Jean Dasté). Huguet is as fun loving as the students, with his Chaplin imitations, and gymnastics during class. The boys continue to rack up more zeros, though, and finally they decide that they are fed up with Sunday punishment so they plot to escape from school. Meanwhile, the headmaster, a Napoleon-style dictator and midget (literally) fears for the success of upcoming Alumni Day with the boys misbehaving. He enlists the help of foppish student Tabart (Gerard de Bedarieux) to infiltrate the boys' cadre, thereby threatening the mini revolution that could occur. Vigo uses avant-garde techniques and satire--the surreal, poetic, pillow fight sequence, dropping dialogue for effect--to support anarchy in the quest to end tyranny. [More]

Starring: Jean Daste, Robert Le Fion

Starring: Jean Daste, Robert Le Fion

Director: Jean Vigo

Director: Jean Vigo

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