“Let’s compare two films set in the world of nomads, fairs and circus: the beautiful Le dévouement d’un gosse made in 1911 and the not less interesting Coeur des Gueux made in 1925. The titles already suggest a difference. The short film of 1911 just announces what it is about: the spirit of sacrifice of a little boy. The title of the 20’s film is placed in a more symbolic register. That of 1911 very simply announces a little story, a fact, of exemplary behaviour. A little boy courageously takes the place of his father when the latter dies in an accident in the lions’ cage (in reality it was caused by a leopard), in order to support his family. Therefore this is a very simple story, told in just a few scenes.
What I appreciate in this case, as in most of the films of this period – not just in Machin’s films – is the modesty of them. of facts, characterised by simple casualty. No need for motives: the facts and gestures speak for themselves. The moral of the story is evident, without it having to be ‘moralistic’.
If, on the other hand, I must talk about the plot in Coeur des Gueux (and it is not by chance that I use this term in place of the former one), I need to force myself a little bit more. A young pregnant woman is helped by an old gentleman who… We are into the sphere of psychological pretensions, where the moralistic aspect is evident”. (Eric de Kuyper)