War of the Buttons

In a small corner of rural France in March 1944, the boys of neighbouring villages Longeverne and Velrans have long waged a merciless feud. Their latest tactic gives the conflict its name: prisoners have the buttons cut from their clothes, so they return home half-dressed and humiliated, and further punished by their parents. Longeverne's gang is led by Lebrac, whose attention shifts when Violette, a girl from the city staying with her aunt Simone, arrives in the village. Her appearance raises suspicions among locals about her Jewish origins, and the children's game unfolds against the German occupation and the dangers that come with it.

This 2011 French family adventure, released as La Nouvelle Guerre des boutons, adapts the classic tale of village rivalries and sets it during the Second World War. It runs 100 minutes and was directed by Christophe Barratier, who wrote the screenplay with Stéphane Keller. The film followed his 2004 debut The Chorus and preceded The Outsider, Jesus, from Nazareth to Jerusalem, Fly Me Away, Comme par magie and The Children of the Resistance.

Jean Texier plays Lebrac, with Clément Godefroy, Théophile Baquet, Louis Dussol, Harold Werner and Nathan Parent among the credited cast of 95. Made for about 13 million dollars, it took roughly 14 million worldwide, a modest return. On IMDb it holds 6.2 from 2,500 votes, and on TMDB 5.9 from 480, while critics' reviews average 4.8 from 24, lower than audiences.