The Wild Child = : L'enfant Sauvage

Locations
Call Number: DVD FLC-FRE Wild
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD FLC-FRE Wild	1-week checkout	On Shelf

Aspect ratio, 1.66:1; theatrical release format.
Originally released as a motion picture in 1969 by Les Films du carrosse; digital video transfer by United Artists in 1970.
Based on memories of Victor de l'Aveyron by Jean Itard.
Special features include: original theatrical trailer in English ; scene selections.
Jean-Pierre Cargol, Françoise Seigner, François Truffaut, Paul Villé, Pierre Fabre, Jean Dasté.
Dramatized account of Dr. Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard's efforts to civilize a young boy who was discovered living wild in a forest. The boy, named Victor, becomes increasingly divided between his longing for the wilderness and his new life with the doctor. Itard, whose teaching strategies survive today in the Montessori Method, is unsure whether he is helping a savage become human or turning a forest child into a semi-civilized idiot.
DVD ; Dolby digital ; Widescreen.
Contents: Rapports et mémoires sur le sauvage de l'Aveyron.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

18th Century search for "what makes us human", both accurate and misleading true story submitted by jackj on March 19, 2011, 12:43pm Truffault directs this movie based on significant documented evidence about Victor, a young teenage boy who had lived wild in the forests of France for an estimated 8 or 9 years in the 1790's. It is relatively low key, even a bit documentary in style, in black and white. I'd give it a 3 1/2 out of 5, but do consider it definitely worth watching if you are interested in the history of "wild children" and how they have been studied by doctors and philosophers over centuries as a means to (try to) determine what is "essentially human".

Truffault also acts as Dr. Itard, who takes on the task of "civilizing" the boy and carefully documenting the process. Based on what I have read, almost all of the story (until the end) is quite accurate, including the steps of teaching him to live with others, to walk and eat "normally", as well as efforts to teach word recognition and verbal and written language. Also it appears accurate in terms of the nature of the relationship between Itard and Victor - Itard was very intent on the work, and though he obviously cared for the boy, Itard's emotional expression was very restrained - only the housekeeper was able to establish a real mutual attachment with Victor.

The teaching and learning "successes" at the very end appear to have been added for the satisfaction of the director or the audience, leaving the impression that Victor was going to continue to make progress in language and toward a "normal life". I won't say too much, but if you are interested two recommended books are 'The Wild Boy of Aveyron' by Harlan Lane and 'The Forbidden Experiment' by Roger Shattuck.

The information I have is from Michael Newton's 'Savage Boys and Girls', which is a history of numerous cases of wild children, including an analysis of the information sought and found (or not) from studying them. One case in the book is documented on a Nova episode from 1994 "Secret of the Wild Child" about a girl locked in a dark room from infancy to 13. Both this last book and the video are available at AADL (I have not seen the NOVA yet).