L'Argent de poche (Small Change) is a 1976 French film directed by François Truffaut. The title translates to "Pocket Money" from French, but since there was a Paul Newman movie called Pocket Money , Steven Spielberg suggested the title Small Change for US release.

Plot

Small Change is a light family comedy concerning the daily lives of young children in Thiers, France . Scenes include a baby and a cat on a windowsill, a girl with a bullhorn, a double date at the movie theater, a kid telling a dirty joke, a cheap haircut, as well as many scenes about school life. Truffaut is less interested in telling a three act story, instead focusing on the small events that make up childhood. Most of the children were not professional actors and there is no screenplay credit, leading many to believe the dialogue was improvised.

Acclaim

When released, Small Change amassed critical acclaim. It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film. Vincent Canby of the New York Times called Small Change, "an original, a major work in minor keys"[[1]]. Pauline Kael raved, "that rarity, a poetic comedy that's really funny"[[2]]. Roger Ebert named it his favorite of the year, calling it a "magical film" and singled out the windowsill scene as "Truffaut at his best"[[3]].