Carné's epic romance, newly restored - a spectacular recreation of the Parisian theatre world of the 1830s, starring Arletty as the enigmatic object of men's desire

Carné's monumental masterpiece is as deeply absorbing as a great 19th-century novel. A spectacular recreation of the Parisian theatre world of the 1830s and 1840s, it interweaves the fates of four men – a brilliant mime artist, a great Shakespearean actor, a master criminal and an aristocrat – each in his own way obsessed with the enticing, enigmatic Garance (Arletty). A dazzling disquisition on life and art, Les Enfants also probes the pleasurable illusions and painful realities of love in its various guises – from the actor's light-hearted lust to the romantic idealism of the mime artist. ('People love that way in books, in dreams – not in real life,' says Garance.) For Pathé's new restoration, the original camera negative was scanned at 4K, enabling the film's rich pictorial detail to emerge more clearly, while sensitive restoration of the soundtrack (reducing background noise) allows keener appreciation of Jacques Prévert's witty dialogue. In the words of one of the restoration team: 'This is a film that fills the eyes and the ears.'

........................................................................................................................ COMPETITION: Win 1x Pair of tickets to attend Les enfants du Paradis at the BFI SOuthbank on 16th October at 12pm

To claim your tickets, send an email to Katie@run-riot.com with the correct answer in the ‘subject’ box. The winner will be randomly selected.

Q: When was Les enfants du Paradis shot?

A: 1)During the Nazi occupation of France 2) During the French revolution 3) During the first world war