Figure 1.--Les amitiés particulières' is set primarily in a strict French boarding school. The boys do not wear uniforms, but many wear short pants suits or sweaters with knee socks. Notice the dark knee socks. HBC has not commonly noted French boys wearing dark knee socks. White knee sock were common at French Catholic schools.

'Les amitiés particulières' is a classic French film (1964). It was released in Americas with English subtitles as 'This Special Friendship' (1967). It is a very romanasque novel. The title could be translated as "This Particular Friendship". Roger Peyrefitte's original book was translated into English as Special Friendships. That English translation is a bit misleading. The novel is about a charged platonic relationship between boys at a strict Jesuit boarding school in France. The books pre-World War I setting isupdated to contmprary times. It stars Francis Lacombrade and Didier Haudepin as boys whose chaste but intimate friendship is discouraged as sinful by the priests. I saw the film several years ago and unfortunately do not remenber the details now. The boys, as is the case at most French schools do not wear uniforms. They do commonly wear suits and many boys wear short pants suits with knee socks. The boy here is pictured in a sweater with short pants and knee socks. Except for the dark colored knee socks, the outfit looks British.

Created: 7:30 PM 8/14/2025
Last updated: 7:30 PM 8/14/2025