Jean Vigo's French film Zero de Conduite offered an interesting perspective on childhood innocence and rebellion and how the education system shapes lives of children both positively and negatively.
The contrast between innocence and rebellion was clear from the offset as the children on the train move from playing games to smoking. The introduction to the first member of staff within the system was intriguing, a strict figure with stiff movements and what seems to be an impenetrable impression. This immediately set the notion of a repressive education system into motion.
The first images of the boarding school suggested a prison like atmosphere, with scenes of patrol, surveillance force and fear. The head master steeling the young children's possessions was another shocking image as the children are stripped of what is theirs, emphasising a hierarchy between the students and teachers and the abuse of the power that they have. This is a strong theme throughout the piece, even from the food in the canteen the refusal to stray from structure is clear.
The punishment within this piece was also shocking with the children always being seen as in the wrong giving the teachers absolute and potentially devastating control. Vigo's presentation of the education system is extremely powerful putting forward controversial views for the time that remain relevant in today's society.
The contrast in the character Hugeut was interesting as he appeared a more encouraging figure that offered a much safer, inspiring education for the students, yet he is frowned upon for this, showing perhaps a sign of hope within the system but also a futility to this hope. Maybe this is a reflection on Vigo's views on the lack of progression in the system at the time.
The almost inevitable rebellion from the students is shown through the piece through a series of artistic scenes that are really effective at encapsulating the determination for change within the children. The food fight within the canteen, a place of structure and repetition demonstrated the impossibility of forcing these students into the ideals of the teachers. One of the most powerful scenes was the pillow fight. An artistic, theatrical moment of freedom and unity would become an influential piece in film history.
Although this film was banned almost immediately after release, it offers so many important messages about childhood and the educational system that it has become an extremely important piece that I admire due to Vigo's risk taking and determination to put forward his views even if they oppose society at the time.
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