Le cercle des petits philosophes
What is the meaning of life? Why do we live? What is death? What is love? The philosopher and best-selling author Frédéric Lenoir, asked these questions to children from 7 to 10 years old, during philosophical workshops he conducted in two elementary schools over the course of a year. With him, we share the thoughts of these children, who confront the complexity of the world and the violence of their emotions. We marvel at the ability of children to seize existential questions, to argue, to debate … and to become little philosophers!
Information & resources
A film by Cécile Denjean
Produced by Fabrice Papillon, L’Atelier Distribution and Galaxie Presse
Production year: 2019
Language: French
Subtitles: none
Runtime: 84 min
Age: legal age 6 years, recommended 6 years
Cinematography: Valério Carignano
Sound: Jean-Christophe Girard
Editing: Nathalie Amsellem
Mixing: Laurent Herniaux
About the people behind the film
After studying international relations and cinema in relation to human rights, French filmmaker Cécile Denjean began directing in 2012 with Yemen, le voile et l’interdit, confronting Orientalist clichés. She went on to build a notable documentary filmography, often supported by Arte. Her films have explored the scientifically “enhanced” human being, dark matter and the digestive system. She became known in 2014 for Princesses, pop stars & girl power, about the pressures of “girly” culture. Virilité examines the expectations placed on men. In Le cercle des petits philosophes, she turns to teaching philosophy to children aged seven to eleven.
A philosopher and sociologist with a doctorate from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, he has written around fifty books, including essays, novels, tales and encyclopaedias. Translated into some twenty languages, they have sold seven million copies worldwide. He also writes for theatre, television and comics. He co-founded the SEVE foundation (Savoir Être et Vivre Ensemble) and created the Ensemble pour les Animaux association.