Allons z'enfants (1981)

During the Popular Front era, Simon Chalumot (Lucas Belvaux) is a military-school pupil. At the age of thirteen, he was sent to a military lycée by his father (Jean Carmet), a former warrant officer who served at Verdun. He is considered a “difficult case,” resistant to discipline and military life in general. One evening, he escapes to visit Zézette, his fiancée. But the girl’s father catches him and calls Simon’s father, who takes him back to the lycée. He should not be readmitted, but an exception is made in view of his father’s service record, much to Simon’s displeasure. Despite his aversion to the lycée, he does brilliantly in his final exams. Thus, against the advice of a teacher and a young lieutenant, he is kept in the army: in October, after his vacation, he will enter the military preparatory school in Tulle, a school for noncommissioned officers. His father is naturally delighted by this advancement. But Simon quarrels with him and decides to spend his vacation with an uncle who is a winegrower. At Tulle, training is strict, but life is less harsh than at the lycée. Chalumot develops a passion for literature, theatre and cinema. His French teacher, Brizoulet, grows fond of him. At the same time, Simon again finds himself at odds with his superiors. He even attempts suicide. After recovering, he resumes his training while planning to make a film. But war soon breaks out. General mobilization is declared, and the noncommissioned-officer trainees are sent to the Maginot Line.