- Release year: 1976
- Director: François Truffaut.
- Producer: François Truffaut.
- Screenplay by: François Truffaut and Suzanne Schiffman.
- Cinematography by: Pierre-William Glenn.
Synopsis: Truffault’s portrait of childhood in rural France.
Shotgun Commentary: cosy, safe, thought-provoking.
Review
Pocket Money, also known as Small Change, is a film where a lot and nothing happen at once. Much like a Renoir, this film presents scenes of daily life through a blend of soft colours and familiar circumstances. If someone asked you to think of the opposite of a high-octane movie, you would probably think of something akin to this.
Such is life
The feature follows a group of children as they navigate childhood and the beginnings of prepuberty. They are all part of the same class and live in the same small village. Most of them live even in the same building. As such, they are all connected one way or another even after school hours.
The camera shadows their movements without intruding or adding flourishes to the narrative. In that regard, the film looks very much like a documentary, an appearance further reinforced by the use of non-professional actors to play the characters. This leaves most of the technical creativity up to the editor, who chooses when and how to show each of the most relevant events that take place in the village.
Still, the movie is very much fiction. As seen in the resolution of its biggest conflicts. Without entering into any spoilers, there is one anxiety-inducing moment in the film that almost has no business being there. One minute, you will be calmly watching some kids at school, neighbours greeting each other, etc. The next, you will be on the edge of your seat, bordering on a heart attack. Luckily, the feature has no interest in making you suffer more than necessary, so most problems will be solved with as little drama as possible.
Good ol’ nostalgia
There are moments of community, of deception, of guilt and misleading, of punishment and learning, and of fun and mischief. Everything you expect to be part of a child’s life as well as of the lives of those around them. Overall, it is a pleasant experience if you are in the mood to watch good cinema where nothing too relevant happens at all. A bit like the 70s French, middle-class version of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025).
Undoubtedly, one of the main highlights of the film is the final speech by the teacher when he is asked about the fate of a child who has been rescued from his abusive household. Through this adult character, Truffaut expresses his final thoughts on the world that children inhabit. There is a plea for compassion and care for children, acknowledging their strength but also the importance of a safe and loving environment. The philosophical rant portrays childhood as this magical but also frail moment that shapes children into the adults that they will become someday. A message that remains as relevant as ever in the light of all the news about horrible abuses to minors that is constantly coming out, Epstein papers included.
All in all, Pocket Money is a reminder of a more naive time. A film full of nostalgia that will make your heart soar and ache at the same time. With wonderful characters and a beautiful tapestry of short stories creating one big, beautiful piece.
Radiance’s Blu-ray of Pocket Money is out now. Link and details below!
LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES
- High-Definition digital transfer
- Original uncompressed mono PCM audio
- Interview with director François Truffaut (1975, 30 mins)
- On-set footage with Truffaut and the cast (1975, 4 mins)
- Interview with curator Sonali Joshi (2025, 12 mins)
- Trailer commentary by filmmaker Allan Arkush (2019, 3 mins)
- US trailer
- Optional English subtitles
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Smith
- Limited edition booklet featuring Truffaut’s written introduction to the film and a contemporary interview with Truffaut
- Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
Find the Radiance release right here!
Advice to take from this movie:
- Make sure to keep your windows closed if you have a baby or a pet.
- Never leave a child alone with a megaphone.
- Never let a kid cut your hair.
What’s your take? Have you watched Pocket Money? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀