

Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Cast: Jrmie Renier, Dborah Franois

It garnered the Best Film in Cannes Film Festival 2005 .

Well, I watched four of their films in a fringe festival recently .... guess it? La Promesse, Rosetta, Le Fils, and L'Enfant ... it was kind of a retro on films by the directors ...

My thoughts ...

-- What I definitely like and have to establish as the first point ... hee hee ... the great performance by the two lead! ... how can one not feel the chemistry between the two? ... they really feel like a young couple ... who are so in love ... and yet became upset ... but still liking each other ... and finally ... * for you to watch the film *

I thought Jrmie Renier carried his role very well in La Promesse, and he was even better this time ... I can't recall if I have watched films by Dborah Franois, but she was good too ...

-- Although I have always prefered films without an ending ... I have to say that this film feels very "complete" ... and I actually like it ... 

-- apart from the performance, it is rather "meticulous" about the admirable human spirit (about love, trust and bond)

(i) rather obvious 
... the love and bond between the two leads is so well delivered 
(whether before or after the incident)
... the love between mother and son 
(NOTE: i am talking about the two mothers and the two sons) 

(ii) less obvious (because the audience are possibly upset with the man)
... actually, there is also love between the father and the son ... 
(when he tries to remove his jacket so tactfully without disturbing the baby)
(and when he places him so gently down on his jacket)
(or maybe when he repairs the pram ...)
(or maybe or could it be ... although unexplained ... maybe he really thinks the baby will have a better life with the foster parents rather than him?!) 
* but i am NOT defending that it is right *

(iii) rather obvious 
... trust between the man and the kid 
(not once, but a few times)

(iv) less obvious
... trust between the man and the buying party
(not once, but twice)

etc etc etc

-- Regarding the plot ... i know of many who may find it too simplistic ... either because of its simplicity or resolution or completeness ... I must say that part of the blame should go to ALL the publicity, the synopsis and trailers ... they all have kind of given the essential surprises/uncertainty away ... in fact, if one were to go without knowing anything about the film, there could be numerous surprises ...

* possible major spoilers *

-- Actually, the first "surprise" (which is no more) has to be the fact that he really did sell the baby away ... audience who went to watch the film without knowing will still be upsettingly surprised ...

Fortunately, there are still other surprises/uncertainty for me ... 

(1) When he first sold the baby by leaving him in a quiet room, I was like ... oh no ... how could he trust the other party, he would lose the baby and NOT get any money ... 
;(

(2) Also, when he tried to get the money back by returning the money and phone, I was like ... oh no ... he would lose NOT only the money and phone, but the baby as well ... oh no ... it is going to be a very very very sad film ...

(3) Near the end ... When he finally appeared at the station and asked to see the boy ... I was like ... oh no ... but at the same time, VERY GLAD and VERY PROUD of his decision ... wow ... what a man of his words ...

(4) Backtrack ... Also, when the kid was caught ... oh no ...

(5) In fact, when he followed the woman initially, I thought that might be the robbery, but nothing happened ...

* end of spoilers *

Well, I still think it would have been more unpredictable and suspenseful if one went without knowing anything ...


Conclusion
Frankly, I really like the film ...
highly recommended ...

-- one shld go watch for the performance and also, the admirable human spirit (about trust and love) ... see my justification above ... not only is it an art film, it is also commercial enough ...

- maybe i like it slightly less than La Promesse 
(which i really like, maybe because it was the first film I watched that was made by the directors)

- i know many will hate me for saying this ... but I like it better than Rosetta 
(which I like for two things, i.e., the acting and the "betrayal" (which was the main surprise))
(which I dont like for two things, i.e., the fishing scenes and the stomach ache scenes)