Children of Paradise

This screening includes a 5-minute intermission

In 1830s Paris, theatrical mime Baptiste (the extraordinary Jean-Louis Barrault) falls in love with an actress and notorious woman about town, Garance (Arletty). When she’s falsely accused of a crime, Garance must seek the protection of one of her other admirers. Yet Baptiste’s passion, once kindled, never really dies. Made during the last years of WWII, Children boasted the largest set ever constructed for a French film, a tour de force for legendary production designer Alexandre Trauner (who worked in secret to escape the scrutiny of the Occupation), plus a sparkling script from the legendary poet and screenwriter Jacques Prévert. Carné moves the action effortlessly between stage and audience, teeming streets and intimate boudoirs, bringing the world of these characters to pulsing, vibrant life.