L'Enfant

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L'Enfant

R

2005

1h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

After giving birth, teenage Sonia (Déborah François) returns home to find that her boyfriend, irresponsible petty criminal Bruno (Jérémie Segard), has sublet their apartment. Sonia tracks Bruno down on the street, and after the couple spends the night together, they decide to start a new life with the baby. But the next morning, Bruno sells their child for cash, sending Sonia into shock. Shaken by her decision to press charges against him, Bruno sets out to retrieve the baby.

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Critics Consensus

The Dardennes continue to excel at presenting works of rigorous naturalism, with detached observations of authentic characters that nevertheless resonate with complex moral issues.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

L'Enfant deals in matters of (organized) crime and punishment without compromising its emotional acuity or spiritual purity.

Apr 6, 2020

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Victoria Segal

New Statesman

L'Enfant shows a world that remains under the radar for most people, yet proves that growing up - however long it takes - is anything but child's play.

Sep 26, 2017

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Unfolding in real time on the scruffy working-class streets of industrial Belgium, this harrowingly intense odyssey charts Bruno's desperate search for redemption.

Nov 1, 2007

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

The Dardenne brothers’ restraint and resolute refusal to moralize about their easily condemnable protagonist open [The Child] up to being a compelling reflective exercise on the limits of redemption.

Aug 25, 2023

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Their depiction of the bleak conditions provides them a certain credibility, but then the filmmakers largely turn their backs on the implications of those conditions.

Feb 14, 2021

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Further cements the reputation of the Dardennes as innovative and essential filmmakers.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 13, 2020

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Brief Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Canadian French and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 20th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Jerod S

The French answer to why you grow up and get married before having kids and why committed relationships are important for society.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/29/23

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Audience Member

A grimey story of one man's emotionless descent into immorality. Well captured and feels real. A modern French classic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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dave s

It's evident early on that L'Enfant is a film from the Dardenne brothers, from both a style and theme perspective. Sonia (Deborah Francois), a young woman with a newborn, is in love with Bruno (Jeremie Renier), an incompetent petty thief and man-child with no moral compass. When he takes things a step or two too far and sells the baby behind Sonia's back, things take an understandably bad turn in their relationship. It's a story about survival and, ultimately, some form of redemption as the young couple try to come to terms with the course of events. The film loses some steam over the second half as the focus is primarily on the repugnant Bruno as opposed to the more intriguing Sonia, but it remains fairly compelling viewing from the always interesting Dardennes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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nefasto r

Another stroke of ultra-realism from the Dardenne brothers, another powerful tale, another very good film. "Take responsibility of your actions": this seem to be the invisible line connecting all of their works, and all the one I saw deserve to be watched.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Honestly this movie is just really boring and sucks. I just don't care for it I felt that it was a waste of time I rather watch "The Kid" on top on that the characters aren't interesting at all

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

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Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Director

Luc Dardenne

Director

Jérémie Renier

Bruno

Déborah François

Sonia

Jérémie Segard

Steve

Fabrizio Rongione

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Synopsis

After giving birth, teenage Sonia (Déborah François) returns home to find that her boyfriend, irresponsible petty criminal Bruno (Jérémie Segard), has sublet their apartment. Sonia tracks Bruno down on the street, and after the couple spends the night together, they decide to start a new life with the baby. But the next morning, Bruno sells their child for cash, sending Sonia into shock. Shaken by her decision to press charges against him, Bruno sets out to retrieve the baby.

Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Producer: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd
Screenwriter: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Production Co: Les Films du Fleuve
Rating: R (Brief Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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