L’ENFANT

Belgium, 2005, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois.
Directed by Jean- Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

The Dardenne Brothers know Liege and its environs well. They know the life of the working classes and the unemployed. They have been in the territory of L’ Enfant before, with their Cannes award-winning Rosetta. It is something of a surprise to see them return there after the powerful complexities of Le Fils. In fact, L’ Enfant needs some of these complexities.

L’ Enfant is rather a misleading title. The newborn child, Jimmy, is important to the plot, showing us the love of his young and naïve mother and the callow and irresponsible attitudes of his father. But, then the film focuses for the most part on Bruno, the father, a petty thief who traps himself in impossible situations. Bruno is not a likeable character, the cyclist whose pillion passenger snatches bags from helpless people in the streets and then spends the money on jackets and arcade games. As a portrait of this young man and his assumption that society owes him a living, the film is effective if not particularly engaging. It is full of naturalistic sequences and detail that ring true – but perhaps the Dardennes can make a sequel. It would be much more interesting to see whether Bruno can really change and make something worthwhile of his life.

Winner of the Palme d’Or, Cannes, 2005.

1. The career of the Dardenne brothers, their direct cinema style, social concerns, portraits of individuals, lower-class members of society, insights into society and individuals?

2. The Liege settings, the river, streets, shelters, apartments, shops? The police stations? The river and the bridges for the climax? Authentic atmosphere?

3. Cinematic style, naturalistic, cinema verite, the use of the hand-held camera? Musical score?

4. The title, the reference, to the young baby? To Sonya? To Bruno – especially Bruno? The effect of the birth on Sonya and Bruno? Bruno and his love, callow attitudes, willing to sell the baby, his actions to recover the baby, the consequences for all concerned?

5. Sonya, her age and experience, love for Bruno? The opening, kicking at the door, the phone? Bruno and his cavalier attitude? The happiness together, playing together? The shelter, the pram, buying the jacket? The selling of the baby, the effect on Sonya, her collapse, antagonism towards Bruno, in hospital, her silence and anger, ousting him? Visiting him in prison? The final scenes with him – and weeping?

6. Bruno, the portrait of a young man, age, experience, his relationship with his mother, her friend, his visiting, her telling lies for him? His going to the shelters, his interaction with the young kids, as a thief, dividing the money? Spending the money, buying the jacket, the hat, playing the games, gambling? Irresponsible? The contact and the arrangement about robberies, the phone card? His relationship with Sonya, the birth of the baby, his love, lack of love, irresponsibility? Playing, decision to sell the baby, the phone calls, his lies? Getting the money, telling Sonya? His reaction to her collapse? Decision to get the baby back, the issue of the money, getting into more debt, not turning up to repay? The police, the interrogations? Going to his mother, getting the alibi? The bashing, the gang? Selling the pram? His hunger? With the young boy, having nothing, Sonya refusing to let him in? The final stealing, the chase, the water, Stephen going into the water, his saving him, reviving him? Giving himself up instead of Stephen?

7. His final decision, going to the police, the money back? Some acceptance of responsibility?

8. The portrait of the young children, gangs, stealing, amoral backgrounds?

9. The adult gang, callous, the pressure on Bruno, demanding the money, their violence?

10. The picture of the police, their work, interrogations, concern?

11. The background of families, Sonya and her lack of family, Bruno and his mother?

12. The final sequences in prison, the emotion, Bruno facing Sonya, her facing him, their weeping – the possibilities of a more decent future after he got out of jail?