Forbidden Games

Forbidden Games

War ... and how it affects the lives of our children

Directed by René Clément

Produced by Silver Films

195287 min7.8 / 10

A tender yet sorrowful portrait of two children forging an intimate bond while grappling with death and displacement in wartime France.

Orphaned after a Nazi air raid, Paulette, a young Parisian girl, runs into Michel, an older peasant boy, and the two quickly become close. Together, they try to make sense of the chaotic and crumbling world around them, attempting to cope with death as they create a burial ground for Paulette's deceased pet dog. Eventually, however, Paulette's stay with Michel's family is threatened by the harsh realities of wartime.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Is Forbidden Games sad? Yes, very. More sad than 96% of films.

  • Does Forbidden Games end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 61% of films.

  • Is Forbidden Games easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Forbidden Games violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Forbidden Games scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

79/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity78

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise65

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love95

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Forbidden Games, and what each one shares →

Like Forbidden Games

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Forbidden Games

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Forbidden Games, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Forbidden Games, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Forbidden Games, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

Share thisXBlueskyReddit