L'Enfant

Belgium, France

Synopsis

Bruno, twenty. Sonia, eighteen. They live off Sonia's benefit and the thefts committed by Bruno and the kids in his gang. Sonia has just given birth to Jimmy, their child. How can Bruno become a father, being so carefree and living as he does for the present, solely concerned about the money from his deals?

Director's Statement

The film probably dates from a day during the shooting of our previous film.
We were in Seraing, on Rue du Molinay.
In the morning, afternoon and evening, we saw a girl pushing a pram along with a newborn baby asleep inside it. She didn’t seem to be going anywhere in particular, just around and around with the pram.
We have often thought back to this girl, her pram, the sleeping child, and the missing character: the child’s father. This absent figure would become important in our story … A love story that is also the story of a father.

Director's Biography

Jean-Pierre Dardenne was born in Engis, Belgium, in April 1951.

Luc Dardenne was born in Awirs, Belgium, in March 1954.

They made numerous documentaries.

In 1975, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne founded the company „DÉRIVES” which has since produced some 60 documentaries, includeing their own.

In 1994, they founded the production company “Les Films du Fleuve”.

Filmography:
2005 THE CHILD
2002 THE SON
1999 ROSETTA
1996 THE PROMISE
1992 I THINK OF YOU
1987 FALSCH
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Written by: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Produced by: Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Cinematography: Alain Marcoen

Editing: Marie-Hélène Dozo

Production Design: Igor Gabriel

Actor: Deborah Francois (Sonia), Jeremie Segard (Steve), Jérémie Renier (Bruno)

Nominations and Awards

  • European Film 2005
  • European Actor 2005
  • People's Choice Award 2006
  • Feature Film Selection 2005