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DETAILS

MPAA Rating - n/a

Length:
    100 Minutes

Genre:
    Drama

Original Release Date:
    May 25, 2004

Director
    Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Cast
    Olivier Gourmet, Morgan Marinne, Isabella Soupart, Remy Renaud, Nassim Hassaini

 
Movie Summary
This downbeat drama by acclaimed Belgian filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne bears a thematic and formal resemblance to their previous works, La Promesse and the Palme DOr winner Rosetta. Dardenne brothers regular Olivier Gourmet is in every frame as the stern Olivier, a carpenter who teaches the craft to teenagers seeking a vocation. Oliviers drab routine is interrupted by the enrollment of a new student, Francis (Morgan Marinne), who becomes the object of the carpenters inexplicable obsession. Speaking with his ex-wife, Magali (Isabella Soupart), about his new charge, Olivier reveals the reason for his fixation: Francis was the young street tough who murdered their child years ago. Now out of juvenile prison, Francis seeks to start anew, and eventually even asks the flummoxed Olivier to become his guardian. Olivier withholds his knowledge from the oblivious Francis, even as a tentative relationship between the two develops. The tense scenario leads to a climactic confrontation at a lumberyard, as the past finally catches up with teacher and student. This rigorous and deliberately paced film played in competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, where Gourmet was awarded the best actor prize. ~ Elbert Ventura, All Movie Guide


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