Child, The

aka: L'enfant
France / Belgium 2005, 100 minutes
Dir. Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne
In French with English subtitles
Rating: [R]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Drama

Feat. Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois

Aroview: The latest humanist imprint from the Dardenne's is a gripping, logical extension of their socio-economic character studies, here following the plight of a young unemployed couple whose newborn baby tragically becomes the victim of a black market child selling ring.

Fine-tuned to the brothers' strict filmic specifications, this retains the taut, scoreless tension of ROSETTA and THE SON with added, unexpected suspense. Even stronger is the film's redemptive undertow, tugging sincerely at the heartstrings while cogently citing the struggle of today's underclass.

NZ International Film Festival 2005
Cannes - Palm D’Or