L’ECOLE BUISSONNIERE/ SCHOOL OF LIFE

François Cluzet, Jean Scandel, Eric Elmosnino, François Berleand, Valerie Karsenti, Thomas Durand, Ilona Cabrera.
Directed by Nicolas Vanier.

The French title is a particular idiom, indicating an experience of truancy, avoiding school, learning from the school of life.

This is a very entertaining period film, 1927, a time of class distinctions, of lords of the manor, of grounds, game and poachers, dressing for the hunt…

However, the focus is on a 10-year-old boy, Paul (Jean Scandel in his only film), a very sympathetic screen presence. Rescued from an orphanage, he goes to live with Celestine, who works in the manor house, and her husband, Borel, the gamekeeper.

However, there is an eccentric loner outing the woods, played by François Cluzet, always a strong presence in his films). He encounters the boy, they form a friendship, sharing in fishing and poaching in the grounds, the boy a quick learner.

While there are many pleasing sequences in the woods, there is also the story of the Count, very traditional, disapproving of his son with his city-like style, refusing to finance his automobile company. While the audience suspects, early enough, who Paul really is, the truth gradually emerges, the Count accepting Paul as his grandson, Celestine telling Paul the truth, and the Count leaving his property to Paul – thwarting the harsh measures the son was about to introduce, everybody in the town being very happy with Paul and his management.

The film was directed by Nicolas Vanier (Little Nicholas, Belle and Sebastien). He has a capacity for bringing forests and nature alive.


1. The original title? The emphasis on not going to school, truancy?

2. 1927, France, social classes, the manor, the countryside, hunting, poachers? The strict orphanage? The landscapes, the animals? The musical score?

3. Costumes and decor, local customs, the lord of the manor, the inhabitants of the town, staff?

4. Celestine, her marriage to Borel, her work at the manor, his supervision of the grounds, searching for poachers? Her visit the city, to the orphanage, the conversation with the manager, the interview with Paul, slapping his face? Her reaction? The issue of adoption? She and her husband fostering children? Her decision to take Paul home? Her knowing his identity? Changing his name? Borel and his reaction?

5. Paul, not knowing anything about his parents, in the orphanage, his age, personality? Returning with Celestine? In the house, settling in? The lifestyle? Interactions with boreal? The stories about Totoche?

6. The character of Totoche, age, background, military, hunting, poaching, his knowledge of the woods, of the animals? The initial encounters with Paul? Paul and his intelligence, asking questions, helping with the fishing? Totoche and his selling fish and vegetables in the town? The loner? Interactions with Borel, taunting him? The growing friendship with the boy, sharing his knowledge?

7. Celestine taking the boy to the house, the Count? His interest in the boy, their discussions, admiring his knowledge? Sharing his company, allowing him house?

8. The Count and Bertrand, social life, the women, the parties, his father’s disapproval, his father not financing his automobile company? The Count preferring Paul’s company?

9. The Gypsies, allowed to settle on the property, their way of life, Paul and his encounter with Bella, the time together, sharing, adventures? Bertrand and his disapproval?

10. Paul, going to school, his work, the teacher? Bonding?

11. The issue of the stags, the trophies in the Count’s house, the rumours about the 18 point stag, Paul seeing him, Paul and Bella?

12. The hunt, boreal and his costume, leading the hunt? The stag, shrewd, in the river, the hounds losing the scent? But the trail and Bertrand knowing where the stag was?

13. The Count, riding, his fall, bedridden, the discussions with Celestine, his telling the story of his severe father forbidding his marriage, his repeating the harshness with his daughter, her leaving, encountering the soldier, his being killed in war, the Count’s attitude, not knowing about her son, acknowledging Paul? Paul and his learning his mother’s name
was Mathilde, going to the cemetery to search?

14. Celestine telling him the truth, his response, the mausoleum for his mother? His acceptance of his status?

15. The reading of the will, Bertrand and his inheritance, the house and property going to Paul? Bertrand and his plans for putting up a wall, preventing the movement of animals, the search for the stag and Borel confronting him? To expel the Gypsies?

16. Paul, the change of policy, the move to progress on every front?

17. Paul, his future, Borel and Totoche reconciling, Celestine as a mother figure?

18. An entertaining period story – of a past era?