War of the Buttons - DVD

Film: For 100 years, the novel The War of the Buttons by Louis Pergaud has been one of the most popular and successful representatives of French children's and youth literature. After the story has been made into a film several times, two new interpretations of the material were released in France in 2011. While the version set in the 1940s by Christophe Barratier (The Children of Monsieur Mathieu) was also released in Germany, Yann Samuell's (Love Me If You Dare) adaptation is only being released as a home cinema version. But that admittedly doesn't mean that this version of War of the Buttons is the worse of the two films. On the contrary.

Samuell transports the story, based on the childhood experiences of Louis Pergaud, to 1960. The two southern French villages of Longeverne and Velran have always been in a permanent clash. When little Tigibus (Tristan Vichard) and his brother Grandgibus (Tom Terrail) are called wimps by the boys from Velran, it amounts to a final declaration of war. Lebrac (Vincent Bres), the leader of the gang from Longeverne, immediately makes a plan for a retaliatory strike that will start the war of the buttons. This involves cutting off all the buttons of the opponent's clothes, which amounts to an enormous humiliation. But while the conflict between the two villages is heading for a new climax, Lebrac has other things to worry about. For while his teacher Merlin (Eric Elmosnino, Gainsbourg) is convinced that the boy has what it takes to be able to get a scholarship to a high school, his mother (Mathilde Seigner) demands that he finish school to work in a factory. The fact that he also falls in love with the neighbor girl Lanterne (Salomé Lemire) makes it almost impossible for Lebrac to be a good leader for his gang during these important times...

War of the Buttons is a very entertaining, endearing children's film that tells its amusing as well as exciting story with a lot of wit and bathed in great imagery. In his films Liebe mich, wenn Du Dich traust (Love Me, If You Dare) and Vergissmichnicht (Forget Me Not), which were conceived for an adult audience, Yann Samuel already revealed a penchant for childlike, playful ideas. Now here he can make full use of this talent. And so, in addition to some quite dramatic scenes, there are also many colourful moments of fun, which make not only small viewers laugh with child-friendly, not too overwrought humour. Especially the big children's party in the last third clearly shows that Samuel can still put himself very well into the fantasy world of children.

The wonderful landscape, which shines in summery colors, provides the perfect backdrop for this successful film adaptation of the children's book classic. The superbly chosen child actors all act in good humour and quite naturally, which plays a considerable part in making the film work so well. This ensemble of children is undoubtedly the best since the adorable film version of Little Nick two years ago. But the adult cast also bolsters the entertainment value. The amusing arguments between Eric Elmosnino and Alain Chabat, culminating in a quite wonderful rock-hopping scene, provide some really good laughs.

All of which makes this adaptation of War of the Buttons a lovely, amusing and intelligent film for the whole family. Therefore applies: especially, but not only for children absolutely recommendable!

Picture + Sound: In the picture, especially the great color scheme stands out. This makes the already beautiful landscape seem even more inviting and the emotional warmth of the story is also made visually tangible. Otherwise, the realization of the image can also please with a decent overall sharpness and coherent contrasts. As for the audio, the dialogue and music dominate the proceedings, with coherent ambient noise and some nice sound effects providing some surround movement. Good!

Extras: As a bonus, in addition to the trailer for the film, the DVD has a making of (approx. 25 mins) worth watching, some cut scenes (approx. 16 mins), and a featurette on the casting of the child actors (approx. 7 mins) to offer. Good!

Conclusion: Yann Samuell's version of The War of the Buttons is a bit more child-oriented and lighthearted than Christophe Barratier's adaptation, which is also well worth seeing. Samuell focuses a bit more on humor and childlike imagination, creating a charming comedy with dramatic depth that primarily children, but adults as well, can have great fun with. The DVD pleases with a technically decent realization and worth seeing extras. A children's film that combines entertainment and demand skillfully with each other and is therefore also absolutely recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp