
DrawingheavilyonthepoignantnovelbyJulesRenardonwhichitisbased,Poildecarotteisamodestyetappealingfilmwhichhasstoodthetestoftimemainlybecauseofthequalityofitsactingperformancesanditsinherenthumanity.ItismorememorablethanJulienDuvivier’searliersilentversionof1925,alsonamedPoildeCarotte.<br/> ThepartofPoildeCarottewasplayedby11yearoldRobertLynen,whowasallegedtohavebeendiscoveredwhilstwalkingdowntheChamps-ElyséesinParis.Lynenistotallycaptivatingandthefilmmadehimaninstantstar,launchingwhatlookedlikebecomingaverypromisingfilmcareer–untilhewasshotdeadwhilstfightingagainsttheGermansin1944.HarryBaur,alegendarystageandfilmactor(whoalsodiedduringWorldWarII,allegedlyatthehandsoftheGestapo),alsoturnsinatypicallyfineperformance.Thereconciliationbetweenfatherandsonattheendofthefilmprovidesitsmostenduringimage,enoughtomelttheheartofallbutthemoststoicalofspectators.



