Les Enfants du Paradis

A long film to show in class at around three hours, but a French film classic, thought to be one of the best films ever made. This black and white examination of life in 19th-century Paris follows a group of actors where four men compete for the attentions of a beautiful courtesan. The film was produced during the Occupation of France in WW2, and is a prime example of the 'escapist' genre.

Want to use Les Enfants du Paradis in the class? The reflections essay below contains thoughts on the story, characters and themes which may help you to incorporate the film into a lesson.