MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for War of the Buttons

War of the Buttons

2011 · 100 min

A nostalgic, bittersweet coming-of-age tale where childhood games collide with the sobering realities of occupation.

Directed by
Christophe Barratier
Genres
Adventure, Family
Starring
Jean Texier, Clément Godefroy, Théophile Baquet
Tagline
The French Resistance came in all shapes and sizes.
Overview
Occupied France; Lebrac leads a play war between two rival kid gangs, but a girl he likes, who's Jewish, is in danger of being discovered by local Nazi sympathisers. Lebrac and the village must now respond to the reality of what's happening.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Rent or buy in the UK
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video
More options Data from JustWatch
Directed by
Christophe Barratier
Genres
Adventure, Family
Starring
Jean Texier, Clément Godefroy, Théophile Baquet
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • warmstrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 2 of 3
  • tensestrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • coming-of-age
  • war
  • friendship
  • identity
  • survival
Places
  • small town
  • countryside
Era
period
Audience
teen
Form
None
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex none
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action4
Horror1
Humour5
Realism7
Romance3
Tension5
Darkness5
Complexity4
Emotional weight6

More like this

Titles like War of the Buttons

Movie

The Children of the Resistance

2026

A plucky, old-fashioned wartime adventure that keeps things tense but family-friendly, with earnest young heroes and a warm sense of camaraderie.

Same writer: Christophe Barratier · Earnest · about coming-of-age and war

Also
Same writer: Christophe Barratier
Via
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
99 min
Details
The Children of the ResistanceHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Time of Secrets

2022

A sunlit, nostalgic summer of boyhood wanderings, first stirrings of love and quiet family secrets, told with gentle warmth and a bittersweet ache.

Same writer: Christophe Barratier · Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and friendship

Also
Same writer: Christophe Barratier
Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • friendship
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
104 min
Details
The Time of SecretsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Black Hen

2015

A quiet, tender childhood adventure that slowly tightens into unease as distant conflict seeps into everyday life.}{.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
90 min
Details
The Black HenHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

A Bag of Marbles

2017

A tense but warm-hearted wartime journey that keeps you rooting for two brave brothers as they navigate danger and separation.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
113 min
Details
A Bag of MarblesHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

War of the Buttons

2011

A sun-dappled, mischievous romp through childhood rivalries, full of scrappy energy and nostalgic charm that keeps things playful and affectionate.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and friendship

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • friendship
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
109 min
Details
War of the ButtonsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Secrets of War

2014

A tense, heartfelt coming-of-age story set against a war, where friendship is tested by loyalty and betrayal.

Earnest, melancholic · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • earnest
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
95 min
Details
Secrets of WarHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Horsemen

1972

A sober wartime adventure seen through young eyes, mixing hardship with loyalty and quiet courage.

Earnest, melancholic · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • earnest
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
120 min
Details
HorsemenHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Au revoir les enfants

1987

A quietly devastating, autobiographical coming-of-age story that builds its emotional power through restraint and precise observation, leaving a lasting ache.

Earnest, melancholic · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • earnest
  • melancholic
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
105 min
Details
Au revoir les enfantsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Belle and Sebastian

2013

A gentle, snowy adventure with a brave child and a loyal dog, mixing wartime danger with heartwarming friendship.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
104 min
Details
Belle and SebastianHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Salad Days

1980

A sober, child's-eye wartime drama that turns ordinary friendship into something fragile and quietly tense.

About coming-of-age and war

Via
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
98 min
Details
Salad DaysHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

The Long, Long Holiday

2015

A gentle, child's-eye view of wartime that balances warmth and adventure with a quiet, growing sense of loss and danger.

Warm, earnest · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • warm
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
1
Details
The Long, Long HolidayHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Fanny's Journey

2016

A tense but hopeful wartime escape seen through children's eyes, mixing peril with youthful resilience and quiet courage.

Earnest · about coming-of-age and war

Via
  • earnest
  • coming-of-age
  • war
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
94 min
Details
Fanny's JourneyHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Rent or buy
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres
adventure, family
Directed by
Christophe Barratier
Written by
Stéphane Keller, Christophe Barratier
Starring
Jean Texier, Clément Godefroy, Théophile Baquet, Louis Dussol, Harold Werner, Nathan Parent, Ilona Bachelier, Thomas Goldberg
Runtime
100 min
Country
France
Languages
French

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.