After four consecutive “masterpieces,” what did the Dardenne brothers do? Make another movie every bit as good as those. Like La Promesse, Rosetta, and The Son, The Child (L’Enfant) is a subtle parable about tests of conscience and character in a punishing world. We’re introduced to Bruno (the extraordinary Jérémie Renier). He’s young, but he’s already a hardened criminal.
Embracing the possibilities of capitalism at the cost of his conscience, he constantly references his cell-phone’s index of buyers. He’ll sell anything if he can benefit from it—even his own newborn child. But this lucrative sale may cost him the one truly meaningful blessing in his life: his beautiful girlfriend Sonia (Déborah François).
Like Kieślowski’s Decalogue, the Dardennes’ films are simple stories that become nerve-wracking thrillers, and they’re growing into a collection of provocative discussion-starters. And by the way, this one has a riveting car chase.
—Jeffrey Overstreet
Directed by: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Arts & Faith Lists:
2011 Top 100 — #46