2,071,040 admissions (France)[1] $1.5 million (US)[2]
Small Change (French: L'Argent de poche) is a 1976French film directed by François Truffaut about childhood innocence and child abuse. In English-speaking countries outside North America, the film is known as Pocket Money.[3] The film had a total of 1,810,280 admissions in France, making it one of Truffaut's most successful films.[4] Only his films The 400 Blows and The Last Metro were more popular in France.[1]
Plot
Small Change is a story of the struggles and yearnings of young children in Thiers, France, in the summer of 1976. The main characters are Patrick Desmouceaux, who is motherless and just starts getting interested in women such as his young teacher, and his friend Julien Leclou, who lives in poverty and is physically abused at home. Julien cannot stay awake at school after nights without sleep and constantly refuses to change for gym class in order to hide his bruises. The film mixes the story of these characters with other more or less innocent childhood experiences and challenges of a number of children. Scenes include life at school, a toddler and a cat perilously playing on an open windowsill but falling down unhurt, a girl causing confusion with a bullhorn in an apartment window, Bruno showing his friends how to chat up girls, a double date at a movie theater, a child telling a dirty joke, a botched haircut, first love and first kisses.
In the end, Julien's abuse becomes public and he is taken away from his family. The story ends with the message of one of the teachers about child abuse, injustice, children's rights, hope, love and resilience: 'Of all mankind's injustices, injustice to children is the most despicable! Life isn't always fair, but we can fight for justice. [...] If kids had the right to vote, they would have better schools [...] Life isn't easy. You must learn to be tough. I don't mean 'gangster-tough'. What I mean is having endurance and resilience. [...] Time flies. Before long, you will have children of your own. If you love them, they will love you. If they don't feel you love them, they will transfer their love and tenderness to other people. Or to things. That's life! Each of us needs to be loved!'[5]
Cast
All young characters were acclaimed child actors at the time of filming:
Children
Philippe Goldmann - Julien Leclou
Bruno Staab - Bruno
Geory Desmouceaux - Patrick Desmouceaux
Laurent Devlaeminck - Laurent Riffle
Sylvie Grezel - Sylvie
Pascale Bruchon - Martine
Claudio Deluca - Mathieu
Franck Deluca - Frank
Sebastien Marc - Oscar
Richard Golfier - Richard
? - Grégory, a toddler
Adults
Nicole Félix - Grégory's mother (as Nicole Felix)
Chantal Mercier - Chantal Petit, the Schoolteacher
Truffaut had been collecting anecdotes about children since the time of The 400 Blows. Some of the events were autobiographical, like his first kiss. By 1972, the script was only a ten-page synopsis. In the summer of 1974, Truffaut became more serious about the project and started developing it further. He and his co-writer did not create a standard script because he wanted the freedom to improvise. In April 1975, Truffaut did location scouting, settled on the town of Thiers, then started casting. The filming lasted from 17 July until October that same year. The original rough cut was three hours.[2]
Release
Box office
Small Change was popular at the box office, in France, the US, Germany, Scandinavia and Japan.[2] It was the 17th most popular film of the year in France.[7]
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Truffaut, F. (1976). Small Change / Pocket Money. Full quote: [...] Of all mankind's injustices, injustice to children is the most despicable! Live isn't always fair, but we can fight for justice. It's the only way. It's a slow process, but we do move forward. All people with power like to claim they are impervious to threats. But they do give in to pressure. A show of strength is the only way to get results. Adults understand that and they obtain what they ask for by demonstrating. I want to show that when adults are determined they can improve their lot. But children's rights are totally ignored. Political parties are not concerned. With kids like Julien or you. Do you know why? Because children don't vote! If kids had the right to vote, they would have better schools and sports facilities. You would get them because the politicians need your vote. You could come to school an hour later in winter instead of rushing out before daylight. I also want to say, because of my own childhood, I feel kids deserve a better deal. That is why I became a school teacher. Life isn't easy. You must steel yourselves to face it. I don't mean 'hard-boiled'. I am talking about endurance and resilience. Some of us, who had a difficult childhood are better equipped for adult life than those who were overprotected by love. It's the law of compensation. Life may be hard, but it's also wonderful. When we are confined to the sickbed, we cannot wait to get out and enjoy life. We sometimes forget how much we really love it. [...] Time flies. Before long, you will have children of your own. If you love them, they will love you. If they don't feel you love them, they will transfer their love and tenderness to other people. Or to things. That's life! Each of us needs to be loved!
