Enfant, L' (2005)

Directors:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Luc Dardenne

Writers:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne (writer)
Luc Dardenne (writer)

Release Date:

14 September 2005 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Bruno and Sonia, a young couple living off her benefit and the thefts committed by his gang, have a new source of money: their newborn son.

Plot Keywords:

France | Illicit Work | Money Problems | No Music | Stolen Goods

Awards:

11 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Jérémie Renier	...	Bruno
Déborah François	...	Sonia
Jérémie Segard	...	Steve
Fabrizio Rongione	...	Jeune Bandit
Olivier Gourmet	...	Policier en civil
Anne Gerard	...	Commerçante (as Anne Gérard)
Bernard Marbaix	...	Commerçant
Jean-Claude Boniverd	...	Le Policier en civil
Frédéric Bodson	...	Bandit plus âgé
Marie-Rose Roland	...	Une infirmière
Leon Michaux	...	Policier Commissariat (as Léon Michaux)
Delphine Tomson	...	La fille aux cheveux rouges
Stéphane Marsin	...	Jeune Homme
Samuel De Ryck	...	Thomas
François Olivier	...	Remy

Also Known As:

The Child (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brief language.

Runtime:

Argentina:95 min | USA:100 min | France:95 min | France:100 min

Country:

Belgium | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Hungary:16 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Belgium:KT | Portugal:M/12 | UK:12A | USA:R | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIA | Brazil:16 (Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival) | Czech Republic:15 | Sweden:11 | Argentina:16 | Taiwan:GP

Filming Locations:

Seraing, Belgium

Company:

Les Films du Fleuve

Trivia:

There is no music in this film, not even in the final credits.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Smagsdommerne: (#3.17)" (2006)

Life at the bottom of society

Although I have not seen all other Cannes' comp. films, I think this is a worthy winner of the Palm d'or. The film's scenery is gray Seraing, like the previous Dardenne films, and I think this is the first film in which the camera-work complements the scenery and story near perfectly. Scene's often contain only one or two shots, cutting right when everything has been said. Its one of the few films where I did not notice the camera (I'm a student cameraman), which should be the goal of every cameraman, at least in this style of film. The acting is very impressive (especially Jeremie Renier as Bruno), like previous Dardenne Films. The film seems the most accessible Dardenne so far, although it does not bore in simplicity (I saw it twice in one week, avant-premiere and sneak preview, and I liked the second time best).