The Child (2005)

Highly Recommended

Belgium/France

Feature Film

Original Title: L’enfant

Writer/Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Cinematographer: Alain Marcoen

Cast: Jérémie Renier, Déborah François, Jérémie Segard

A young chancer, who spends his days stealing, begging, and generally enjoying himself, sells his 9-day-old baby son behind his girlfriend’s back, but when she finds out and goes to the police, he arranges for his return, which leaves him severely and dangerously in debt to some local gangsters, in this searing, visceral, and ultimately tremendously moving thriller cum character study from the ever brilliant Dardenne brothers. Iain.Stott