THE CHRISTMAS TREE

by Michel Bataille ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 29, 1969

This will appear as a movie in the fall and perhaps it has to be seen to be believed or at any rate swallowed along with that lump in the throat. Pascal, a boy of ten, is contaminated by a small atomic bomb while vacationing with his father Laurent--his mother had earlier drowned. The boy is given three months to live and Laurent is determined to keep each day perfect and painless. This includes the fulfillment of an old fantasy which is close to obsession--his acquisition of two wolves (which Laurent manages to steal from the Paris zoo). They both identify with the beasts whose spirit can never be tamed or broken although Laurent is close to cracking in the day to day vigil while Pascal knows more than his father suspects. (It comes out as ""so what's the big deal"" in the moment of truth.) Laurent however strongly externalizes his declarative emotions--""I am drinking furiously and crying. I am celebrating you, my little soul"" and M. Bataille is such a noisy writer that he defeats any possibility of a good quiet cry.

Pub Date: Sept. 29, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Morrow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1969

Categories: FICTION