Production The_Wild_Child

1 production

1.1 development
1.2 casting
1.3 filming

production

truffaut (in 1967) read feral children in newspaper article , became fascinated victor of aveyron , dr. jean marc gaspard itard.


development

truffaut had felt strong connection children, outcasts , young people reject traditions of society, , used theme in films such 400 blows , small change. in 1962, truffaut had wanted make film based on play miracle worker, arthur penn had obtained rights , made film later year. in 1966, truffaut read article in le monde lucien malson feral children, short examples of 52 such children 1344 1968. truffaut interested in story of victor of aveyron, wild boy of aveyron , began research story. film s script based upon 2 reports written dr. itard: 1 written academy of medicine in 1801 , 1 written french minister of interior in 1806 requesting ministry continue funding victor s guardian madame guérin. truffaut studied medical texts , deaf-mutes, books maria montessori , documentaries on autistic children. dr. itard s diary invented truffaut , co-screenwriter jean gruault in order give dr. itard more direct voice in film.

casting

after considering several little-known actors, truffaut decided play part of dr. itard himself interact directly child actor playing victor instead of depending on intermediary. after film s shooting completed said had impression not of having acted role, of having directed film in front of camera , not, usual, behind it. later said decision play dr. itard myself more complex choice believed @ time... first time identified myself adult, father, extent @ end of editing, dedicated film jean-pierre léaud because passage, shift became clear me. truffaut later elaborated on films autobiographical elements saying think itard andré bazin , child truffaut.

truffaut had more difficulty casting role of victor, knowing wanted child actor both talented , suitably undisciplined. first considered using either unknown gifted child or son of famous celebrity, thinking younger version of ballet dancer rudolf nureyev perfect. unable find suitable actor, enlisted assistant scout young, wild-looking boys @ schools in nîmes, marseille. 1 day assistant spotted young gypsy named jean-pierre cargol , sent photograph of , interview cargol truffaut, hired cargol, nephew of well-known flamenco guitarist, manitas de plata.

filming

filming took place on location in aveyron, france july august 1969, not in interrupt cargol s education. truffaut s first film cinematographer néstor almendros, went on work truffaut on 8 more films. film included several references aesthetics of silent films, such using iris shutter end scenes , filming in black , white , in 1.33 academy aspect ratio . truffaut directed first-time actor cargol instructing him pretend different animals or people during specific scenes, such dog , or horse , or harpo marx. during shoot, cargol given 8mm camera , stated become first gypsy director , cargol appeared actor in 1 more film. truffaut later said during making of film saw cinema helped evolution. in opinion, difference between jean-pierre cargol before film , after astonishing. truffaut had scripted sequence in victor depicted struggling against harsh weather conditions of winter in wild, budgetary limitations forced him cut out scenes. film has little dialogue , dominated itard s voice-over, making close silent film. use of iris-ing in , out of victor not reinforced film s affinity silent films, symbolized victor s coming out of , going darkness. film s music arranged antoine duhamel , consists of music antonio vivaldi.

after filming completed, truffaut realized wild child had strong connection first film 400 blows, not depicting of frustrated children because mirrored experience working first time actor jean-pierre léaud. truffaut said reliving shooting of 400 blows, during initiated jean-pierre léaud cinema. taught him cinema was. truffaut decided dedicate film léaud. later added realized l enfant sauvage bound both les quatre cent coups , fahrenheit 451. in les quatre cents coups showed child missed being loved, grows without tenderness; in fahrenheit 451 man longed books, is, culture. victor of aveyron, missing more essential – language. truffaut considered making of film growing experience him person , filmmaker, stating until wild child, when had children in films, identified them, here, first time, identified adult, father. after film released, truffaut told reporter did not want spell out message. this: man nothing without other men.