Industrialized societies have created a phenomenon among the young people that drop out from their midst, an aimless class without direction. Most of these youths will go into crime as the only means to survive their meager existences. They will also enter into relationships with other young people and produce illegitimate children, which is the subject at the center of this magnificent film by Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

Sonia, the young mother, is seen as the film opens looking for Bruno, the father of her infant son. It is clear, by the way we see Sonia take care of the baby, she is a mother who loves her son. Bruno, on the other hand, a petty thief, couldn't care less about this son, who probably looks not real to him, or at least, he cannot relate to the child's presence in his life.

Bruno, and the young teen agers that he befriends, are partners in crime in stealing whatever come their way. Bruno, who obviously has no scruples, doesn't think anything when he learns about the lucrative market for selling babies to criminals that are willing to pay a lot of money in order to get them. Selling his own son means nothing to him.

What Bruno doesn't count on is on Sonia's reaction, as she collapses in front of his eyes when he informs her about what he has done. The shock alone sends Sonia into the hospital where she is inconsolable for the great loss she has suffered. Seeing her in the state she is triggers in Bruno a reaction into getting back the baby. He gets the infant back, but the criminals involved in the deal will make him pay dearly for the business he took away from them.

The last straw that unravels Bruno is the street mugging with young Steve in which, unknown to him, people go after him in a chase that takes the duo into the river. Steve, who suffers a cold shock from the water, almost drowns from the experience. When Bruno confesses to the crime, he does the only decent thing he has done in his life. The final scene shows Sonia, who has come to visit him in prison with their son, and Bruno who finally understand the enormity of his crime and his guilt.

Jeremie Renier makes a good impression as Bruno. As the careless drifter, Mr. Renier does some of the best work of his career. He is totally believable as the petty criminal and predator. Deborah Francois captured Sonia and the love she felt for her son. Jeremie Segard is seen as Steve, Bruno's contact and partner in crime.

Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne are film makers that deal in real situations like the one they present us here. "L'Enfant" is one of the best films they have done because the intensity they bring to the story that shows that even a hardened criminal can redeem himself when he understand the enormity of his crime.

Bruno is a hustler petty thief stealing with teen boy Steve. He owes money to violent thugs. His girlfriend Sonia just has newborn Jimmy. They adore each other. He's approached by underground adoption lady. When she leaves Jimmy alone with him, he decides to sell the baby. She's horrified and passes out. He brings her to the hospital and quickly retrieves Jimmy. Sonia recovers and is furious at him.

The style is long quiet takes. The characters aren't always doing something. Déborah François is great as Sonia. The problem is that Jérémie Renier is so lackluster. His acting is very blank for the most part. The best compliment I can say about him is that he doesn't look like he's acting. There is one great section when Sonia returns to the apartment with Jimmy. It has almost no tension for long stretches and a couple of great scenes.

When the single mother Sonia (Déborah François) returns home with her newborn son, she finds that the baby's father Bruno (Jérémie Renier) had rented her apartment for a couple. She seeks out Bruno, who is a small time young thief that has a gang with two other teenagers, on the streets and they go to a shelter to stay during the cold night. On the next morning, they register the child with the name of Jimmy. When Bruno receives a proposal from his dealer for selling Jimmy for adoption for five thousand Euros, he steals the baby and sells him to his contact. However, when Sonia discovers what Bruno did, she faints, goes to the hospital and reports the transaction to the police. Bruno calls off the transaction and retrieves Jimmy, but has to pay to the dealers another five thousand Euros, in the beginning of his descent to hell and final redemption.

The low-budget "L'Enfant" is actually the realistic story of Bruno, an indifferent and alienated young scum originated from the upper class but without job for option that steals, lies, manipulates, wanders on the streets and seems incapable of displaying love, remorse or any other human feelings. Sonia is not well developed and the viewer never knows who she actually is and why she felt in love for Bruno. Jérémie Renier and Déborah François have awesome performances in the lead roles. The conclusion is disappointing since the final redemption of Bruno is inconsistent with his character. Maybe the intention of the writers and directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne is to give some hope to the audience instead of the expected dark and credible ending. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Criança" ("The Child")