Watch War of the Buttons

War of the Buttons is a comedy film that was released in 1962. Two groups of children repeatedly engage in faux-combat in a woodlot near their homes. The games, at first, are a form of play that involves cutting buttons off of each other’s clothes. However, the games quickly become a serious matter that involves both blood and honor. The children eventually learn important lessons about violence, and learn to become men away from their parents. War of the Buttons was directed by Yves Robert, and is based off a novel by Louis Pergaud. It features performances by Jacques Dufilho, Yvette Etiévant, and Michel Galabru.