La Petite marchande d'allumettes (1928)
Directed by Jean Renoir, Jean Tédesco

Film Review

La Petite marchande d'allumettes is regarded by many critics as one of the best of Jean Renoir's silent films.  The director's genius is revealed in the film's remarkable fantasy sequence which - similar to the dream sequence in Renoir's earlier film La fille de l'eau (1924) - employs an impressive array of special effects to great effect.

The film's only noticeable flaw is - as in many of Renoir's early films - the director's choice of lead actress.  Catherine Hessling (Renoir's wife) lacks the girlish innocence to be at all convincing in the role of the match girl and her performance is at times vulgar and unsophisticated.  It is an indication of the film's greatness that Hessling's miss-casting scarcely matters.  The film stands as a beautiful example of a French silent cinema, having all the charm and poignancy of the Hans-Christian Andersen tale on which it is based.

Film Synopsis

One New Year's Eve, in a town laden with snow, busy folk brush past a young match seller, scarcely noticing her as she shivers in the cold.  Jostled and ignored by the rich people who have no need of her wares, Karen loses heart and allows herself to be carried away by sleep.  No one notices as she falls to the icy ground and takes refuge in her dreams.  Karen finds herself in a well-stocked toyshop and is surprised when all the toys around her suddenly come to life.  A regiment of wooden soldiers become animated and one of them, a handsome young officer, invites Karen to share a dance with him.  Just when the match seller couldn't be happier a horseman suddenly burst out of a box and proclaims that he has an appointment with her.  He is death, and as a demonstration of his power, he begins destroying all the toys in the shop.  The gallant officer comes to Karen's rescue.  Mounting a horse, they flee this scene of terrible carnage and go flying off into the clouds.  But Karen is already dead, her lifeless body covered in snow finally attracting the attention of the passers-by...