Zero for Conduct (1933)

 Jean Vigo's "Zero for Conduct"

While watching Jean Vigo's 1933 short film, "Zero for Conduct," I was struck by how much it has influenced future films, especially the French new wave movement of the 1960s. I believe the primary reason for this is due to the film's rebellious nature. This is obviously derived from the themes of childhood rebellion, but it seems to have so much more resonance than that.

The plot of the film centers on four rebellious young boys at a boarding school. The young boys hatch a plan to revolt against their oppressive teachers and take over the school. Their plot ends up being partially successful, as they are able to cause mayhem despite not 'taking over the school.'

1933 was the year Adolf Hitler took power in Germany. By then, much of Europe had seen authoritarian uprising in many parts of the country. Despite being about boarding school students, I believe "Zero for Conduct" represents the larger point about rebellion against oppressive authority. This was a primary reason the film was banned across the country until 1945 (after the demise of the fascist regimes in Europe). The French Ministry was believed to have considered the film dangerous, suggesting that the film could "create disturbances and hinder the maintenance of order." 

To establish this sense of rebellion, Vigo had experimental elements in the film. This signified a sense of rebellion within the constraints of the film medium. For example, in the scenes of the kids playing, a ball a child is holding suddenly disappears and reappears, thanks to the film's editing. In another scene, a teacher is shown an aminated image of a bloated army commander as it moves on the page. These surrealist flourishes allow the film to mirror its subject matter. The film is also 'playing' like the children are. This 'play' and being unabashedly outside-of-the-box allows the film to represent the ideas its carrying. These scenes would go on to inspire Francois Truffaut in his breakthrough French New Wave masterpiece, "The 400 Blows." 

The entire point of the film is to rebel against the established order. Its youthful spirit and sense of abandon allows the film to act as a rebellious tool against the expectations of the audience (and the film medium as a whole). It is a reminded to act disorderly, to 'play' and be silly, and to break the rules - because the rules of establishment are always only there to hinder you.