‘Murmur of the Heart’ (R)

After 18 years, Louis Malle's 1971 coming-of-age, "Murmur of the Heart," still holds most of its fresh intelligence and delicacy. If you consider the intervening, soul-wearying events we've had since then, from Watergate to Iran-contra, that seems quite an achievement.

"Murmur's" mother-son affair admittedly has its age spots; what passed for cinematic honesty in the '70s often seems contrived under jaded '80s scrutiny. But the time-warp problem is surprisingly minor. Maybe it's not the flawless classic that faulty memory recalls, but "Murmur" is still a fabulous treat for anyone who enjoys the movies.

Celebrated over the years as a subtle treatment of incest, "Murmur" gains more significant ground in its frank dealings with the ungainly, blindfolded stumblings of male adolescence. Certainly, the incestuous element, which happens under plausibly extenuating circumstances, is tastefully depicted (if not totally veiled; its "R" rating seems undeserved). But Malle's world of sarcastic, upper-middle-class brats seems to be "Murmur's" most enduring creation. Writing almost directly from his own experiences (with the exception of the incest theme, he has emphasized in interviews), Malle shows you, unsqueamishly, what boys really do with their free moments (we're talking boyish, size-measuring games in the bedroom, amusingly portrayed).

He also lucks out with first-time performer Benoit Ferreux, who gives central character Laurent a suitably gangly-duckling charm, as well as Ferreux's youthful sibs Fabian Ferreux (Benoit's real-life brother) and Marc Winocourt, who act like, well, boys.

We're in Dijon, 1954 (which looks like Paris, 1971, but who's picky), where 14-year-old Laurent is trying to have a normal, middle-class, pre-manhood life. For him, this means shoplifting Charlie Parker records, reading incessantly, doing very well at school and having an innocent, special relationship with Maman (Le'a Massari). But his seen-it-all, mocking brothers have plans for Laurent's growing up. These include, bien-su^r, that obligatory rite of passage, the bittersweet soiree with a warmhearted whore.

Writer/director Malle also has plans for Laurent. Diagnosed with a heart murmur, the boy is dispatched to a health spa under the wing of his Italian mother (too vivacious for her gynecologist-husband, Daniel Ge'lin, to handle anyway). While she continues an extramarital affair (it's a French movie), Laurent meets a prospective girlfriend or two. The inevitable moment between mother and son is no more than a gentle push in the healthy, adult direction in which Laurent is headed.

Malle injects many moments that now seem contrived and cliche'd. You'll meet a priest who likes to rub boys' thighs, and you'll watch Laurent checking out Maman's lingerie. But those moments seem old hat now largely because so many directors, influenced by movies such as "Murmur," have made scenes like this almost required. Maybe that's all the more reason to see "Murmur." It's one of the originals.

MURMUR OF THE HEART (R) - Key. In French with subtitles.