The Child (L’enfant)-Movie Review 10/05/2010
Posted by Films to consider in Belgian/French language film, Drama, French language film, Movies.trackback
The Child (Belgian/French) 2005
released on DVD as L’enfant
Among other awards and nominations:
Winner, Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival
Nominated, Best Director; Best Film; Best Writing-Original; Most Promising Actress (Déborah François), César Awards (France)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
Starring Jérémie Renier as Bruno and Déborah François as Sonia
In a rough, drab, industrialized section of a French-speaking city in Belgium, a young unmarried couple who hardly seem more than children themselves become parents to baby Jimmy. The mother, Sonia, acts responsibly (if not overly maternally) toward the child, but the father, Bruno, is an uncaring petty thief who makes Genghis Khan seem like Father of the Year.
“Take Jimmy for a walk,” Sonia suggests, while the three are waiting in a long line. Always embroiled in his day-to-day deals of cash for stolen goods, Bruno sees an opportunity and makes a transaction that is beyond belief. Whether he can ever make up for his impulsive act remains, in the end, for the viewer to decide.
The accompanying interview with the Dardenne brother-team of directors is very interesting, but don’t watch it ahead of time as I think it gives too much away. It does offer an explanation for why baby Jimmy struck me as the world’s quietest and least complaining newborn.
100 min. Rated R. Adult themes.
FILMS TO CONSIDER 
Dottie, You definitely got my attention! Adding to my Netflix queue.