Zero for Conduct

Zéro de conduite (Zero for Conduct) is a 1933 French film directed by Jean Vigo. The film, set in a boys' boarding school, explores themes of freedom versus authority and is noted for its rebellious spirit and anarchic approach. It was controversial at the time of its release, deemed "anti-French" by censors and banned from theaters for many years. Despite its short initial run, Zero for Conduct is recognized for its lyrical and realistic style, influencing the poetic realism movement in French cinema. Vigo completed only a few films before his early death, but his work is celebrated for its independence and directorial quality, with the Jean Vigo Prize awarded annually in his memory.12