Small Change (film)

Infobox_Film
name = Small Change


image_size= 175px
imdb_id = 0074152
writer = François Truffaut,
Suzanne Schiffman
starring = Nicole Félix,
Chantal Mercier,
Jean-François Stévenin,
Virginie Thévenet
director = François Truffaut
producer = François Truffaut
distributor = United Artists
released = March 17, 1976 (France)
runtime = 104 min.
language = French
budget =
music =
awards =

"Small Change" ("L'Argent de poche") is a 1976 French film directed by François Truffaut. The title translates to "Pocket Money" from French, but since there was a Paul Newman movie called "Pocket Money", Steven Spielberg suggested the title "Small Change" for US release.Fact|date=February 2007 In English-speaking countries outside North America the film is known as "Pocket Money".

Plot

"Small Change" is a light family comedy concerning the daily lives of young children in Thiers, France. Scenes include a baby and a cat on a windowsill, a girl causing confusion with a bullhorn, a double date at the movie theater, a kid telling a dirty joke, a cheap haircut, as well as many scenes about school life, including one boy from a troubled home, and a young boy with a crush on a woman. Truffaut is less interested in telling a three act story, instead focusing on the small events that make up childhood. Most of the children were not professional actors and there is no screenplay credit, leading many to believe the dialogue was improvised.

Acclaim

When released, "Small Change" amassed critical acclaim. It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film. Vincent Canby of the New York Times called "Small Change", "an original, a major work in minor keys" [ [http://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/01/movies/761001change.html "New York Times" review] .] Pauline Kael raved, "that rarity, a poetic comedy that's really funny" [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074152/amazon Amazon.com review] .] Roger Ebert named it his favorite of the year, calling it a "magical film" and singled out the windowsill scene as "Truffaut at his best" [ [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19760101/REVIEWS/601010310/1023 Roger Ebert's review] .] Leonard Maltin gave the movie four stars (out of four) and called it "wise, witty and perceptive." ["Leonard Maltin's 2006 Movie Guide", Signet: New York]

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