How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman tells a story that is alternately sad, scary and life-affirming. It ends with a brutal finale that you knew had to happen, even though you were hoping--maybe even beleiving--it wouldn't.
Utlimately, this is the film's greatest strength: it expertly plays with your emotions and expectations, then drops a bomb on you.
I saw this in a film theory class at USC back in the mid-'90s. It is not easy to find, but is definitely worth hunting for.