Murmur of the Heart

Murmur of the Heart (French: Le souffle au cœur) is a 1971 French comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by Louis Malle, and starring Lea Massari, Benoît Ferreux, and Daniel Gélin. Semi-autobiographical for Malle, the film tells a coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old boy (Ferreux) growing up in bourgeois surroundings in post-World War II Dijon, France, and his complex relationship with his Italian-born mother (Massari). The film was screened at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival and was a box-office success in France. In the United States, it received positive reviews and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.