Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's "L'Enfant"

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Released today on DVD, it's the best film I've seen this year, and probably les freres Dardennes' best film. The similarities to Pickpocket didn't bother me; in allowing Bruno the chance to experience carnal satisfaction with his girlfriend his motivations actually seem more human and thus more absurd. The near-drowning in the icy river is the most harrowing sequence I've seen all year.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 15 August 2006 23:49 (nineteen years ago)

The ending is only marginally more convincing than Pickpocket's.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 00:13 (nineteen years ago)

they should put that on the poster!

s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 00:51 (nineteen years ago)

and probably les freres Dardennes' best film

Don't tell me that! Now I'll never watch another one of their films.

Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 02:35 (nineteen years ago)

Ha! Did you see Rosetta?

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 02:36 (nineteen years ago)

I think my favorite Dardenne is Le Fils

Jena (JenaP), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 02:54 (nineteen years ago)

so far, although I have yet to see Pickpocket.

Jena (JenaP), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 03:00 (nineteen years ago)

No L'Enfant was my first.

Though I have seen PIckpocket. Achingly better.

Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 03:33 (nineteen years ago)

I'm a Rosetta man myself, thogh Le Fils and L'Enfant are both remarkable. I guess the vaguely happy heoric (vague as anything they do) of L'Enfant was at the time more satisfying than the endings the other two offer, and has now faded into unlikeliness.

For something similar try the Death of Mr Lazerescu.

Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 10:16 (nineteen years ago)

It's a shame I have never seen one of their films. I really should. It seems to be a good depiction of life in the Walloons (which is far bleaker and depressing than in the Flanders).

Nathalie (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 10:27 (nineteen years ago)

I wasn't thrilled by this (esp the final scene, which plays like SCTV), but I really hated Rosetta. Eric, watch The Son next.

The scene where he's listening to them count the money from underground is sterling, along with the last-reel chase.

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

Can any Dardenne film thrill? The School of Bressonian Hard Knocks sniffs at thrills.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 13:03 (nineteen years ago)

I found A Man Escaped thrilling!

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

two years pass...

complete Bros retro in NY (insert "Eric, fly in" joke here):

http://www.ifc.com/blogs/thedaily/2009/05/beyond-lenfant-the-complete-da.php

Dr Morbius, Thursday, 28 May 2009 14:05 (sixteen years ago)

three months pass...

Though I have seen PIckpocket. Achingly better.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, August 15, 2006 10:33 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Also achingly better: Lorna's Silence, though not really enough to convince me that the Dardennes are among the foremost filmmakers of our era.

boring movies are the most boring (Eric H.), Saturday, 29 August 2009 05:52 (sixteen years ago)

I admire you!

Indiana Morbs and the Curse of the Ivy League Chorister (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 29 August 2009 07:17 (sixteen years ago)

plz see The Son

Indiana Morbs and the Curse of the Ivy League Chorister (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 29 August 2009 07:17 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

Watched The Son tonight and was genuinely, deeply affected by it. The best thing I've seen in a long time. I'm a big Bresson fan, and these guys carry the torch well. What next?

circa1916, Saturday, 5 February 2011 08:47 (fourteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

L'Enfant was incredible. Don't get the criticism of the final two sequences as they very nearly broke me down. And that hanging question about Bruno's motivation doesn't make it go down so easily. Genuine act of redemption or simply the best option for an increasingly walled-in kid with dangerous men after him?

Looking forward to seeing the rest of their films. These guys hit me pretty hard.

circa1916, Sunday, 20 February 2011 08:51 (fourteen years ago)

Rosetta is their masterpiece and one of the best films in the last couple of decades.

Bill A, Sunday, 20 February 2011 18:33 (fourteen years ago)

Just watched La Promesse a couple nights ago. Far less stoic than Le Fils, but even more bleak, with Olivier Gourmet (the lead in Le Fils) playing a truly despicable immigrant smuggler and Jeremie Réniér (the lead in L'enfant) portraying his son with really believable emotion.

corey, Sunday, 27 February 2011 20:16 (fourteen years ago)

nine years pass...

Watched The Unknown Girl tonight, it was good if not one of their best. I liked the central character’s non-judgmental view of others. There is an everyday quality about all of their films that is appealing, we are in turn observing the protagonists and seeing the world through their eyes. Adèle Haenel (who I previously saw in Water Lilies, BPM: Beats Per Minute, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire) was fantastic

Dan S, Monday, 17 August 2020 00:16 (five years ago)


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