A historical prologue precedes the cast and credits : in 1942 ,the line of demarcation divided France in half :Moulins town was in occupied zone, but on the other side of Alliers river , the unoccupied France lay (till 1943) .

Three resistant fighters escape from the prison of Moulins ,intending to enter the unoccupied zone ;pursued by the German soldiers , they take refuge in a boarding-school for girls ; three of them hide the fugitives in a shed ;unfortunately the headmistress is a tartar , a collaborator who thinks that one must obey the authority ,namely the Kommandantur ,and should she find them, she would hand them over to the Gestapo.

This Gourguet movie,written by himself ,is thoroughly implausible : the young resistant romancing Dany Carrel ,and shortly after , about to die ; the doctors (two of them!),operating the injured man, in the shed , after passing themselves off as roofers -as though the dumb German soldiers did not find odd there was nobody on the roof-...Sewing seems to be the only subject taught in the school !

Now comedy ,now drama ,the director seems caught between two stools ; he even tries a Jean Vigo's "zero de conduite" imitation as the girls rebel again the wicked headmistress and her staff (with the exception of a loyal supervisor) .Even "Crapaud" (toad) , the black sheep of the boarding-school will have her day ; all the girls were Joan of Arc ,should we believe the screenwriters .And what an awful title ! ("souris" is slang for girl,and it's very pejorative)).

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

The war genre features armed conflicts, both historical and fictional, and the experiences of individuals and groups involved in warfare. This genre explores the physical, emotional, and moral challenges faced by soldiers, civilians, and others affected by war.

Dany Carrel and Michel François in La cage aux souris (1954)

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Michel François in La cage aux souris (1954)

La cage aux souris

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