Olivier, the instructor of carpentry in a school in Liege, is a man that is carrying a burden in his heart. After his 11 years old son was killed, his life became a living hell. His marriage collapses, as neither Olivier, or his wife Magali, can come to terms with the tragedy they have experienced. In spite of all that, Olivier, appears to be a man that is beginning to come to terms with his terrible loss.
We watch Olivier as he is followed by the camera at work and in his lonely home. He is a restless man who has to be involved in doing things because the idea of sitting in his apartment is not a welcome alternative. He seems to be a teacher who cares about what he is teaching all these prospective youths.
When he is asked about taking a new young man in his class, he suggests an alternative area. When he sees who this boy is, he tells the placement lady he would accept him in his class. When Francis arrives, Olivier begins to follow him. Be spies on the boy constantly until he goes over to Magali and tells her who this Francis really is. The news is so startling that she faints.
One day Olivier asks Francis to accompany him to pick up wood, so he would be familiar with the different kinds he would be working with. Along the way, Francis, who is sleepy, takes a nap in the back seat. When they stop to eat something, they order, but Olivier refuses to pay for what Francis has ordered. Olivier has asked Francis about his time in prison and the boy tells him it was because of theft. As Olivier presses him, Francis confesses there was an accidental death he had not planned for. For five years Francis has been in jail repaying his debt to society, but that didn't include having to beg for mercy to the parents of the boy which was killed. We figure Olivier has brought Francis along under false pretenses, they have a confrontation, but it's clear that Olivier is a kind and decent man, incapable of taking someone else's life.
Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne, the Belgian brothers, produced a great film that it's amazing because of the simplicity in which they tell the story. In fact, most of the film is shot using medium shots, mostly taken from behind Olivier's shoulders. His expressions and the way he looks at different things, couldn't have employed another narrative. This technique works well for the Dardennes. The film, which is seen through Olivier, has an immediacy like no other movie in recent memory.
The film was blessed with the controlled performance of Olivier Gourmet, an actor who has worked with the Dardennes before. This film is a tour de force for Mr. Gourmet who carries the film by the sheer energy he brings to his Olivier. There is never a false movement on his part; it's clear Gourmet understood what made this troubled man act the way he did. Morgan Marinne is seen as Francis and Isabelle Saupart appears as Magali.
It's obvious this film is not for everyone. Stay with the film up to the end to reap the benefit of watching two of the best minds in film making at work.
We watch Olivier as he is followed by the camera at work and in his lonely home. He is a restless man who has to be involved in doing things because the idea of sitting in his apartment is not a welcome alternative. He seems to be a teacher who cares about what he is teaching all these prospective youths.
When he is asked about taking a new young man in his class, he suggests an alternative area. When he sees who this boy is, he tells the placement lady he would accept him in his class. When Francis arrives, Olivier begins to follow him. Be spies on the boy constantly until he goes over to Magali and tells her who this Francis really is. The news is so startling that she faints.
One day Olivier asks Francis to accompany him to pick up wood, so he would be familiar with the different kinds he would be working with. Along the way, Francis, who is sleepy, takes a nap in the back seat. When they stop to eat something, they order, but Olivier refuses to pay for what Francis has ordered. Olivier has asked Francis about his time in prison and the boy tells him it was because of theft. As Olivier presses him, Francis confesses there was an accidental death he had not planned for. For five years Francis has been in jail repaying his debt to society, but that didn't include having to beg for mercy to the parents of the boy which was killed. We figure Olivier has brought Francis along under false pretenses, they have a confrontation, but it's clear that Olivier is a kind and decent man, incapable of taking someone else's life.
Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne, the Belgian brothers, produced a great film that it's amazing because of the simplicity in which they tell the story. In fact, most of the film is shot using medium shots, mostly taken from behind Olivier's shoulders. His expressions and the way he looks at different things, couldn't have employed another narrative. This technique works well for the Dardennes. The film, which is seen through Olivier, has an immediacy like no other movie in recent memory.
The film was blessed with the controlled performance of Olivier Gourmet, an actor who has worked with the Dardennes before. This film is a tour de force for Mr. Gourmet who carries the film by the sheer energy he brings to his Olivier. There is never a false movement on his part; it's clear Gourmet understood what made this troubled man act the way he did. Morgan Marinne is seen as Francis and Isabelle Saupart appears as Magali.
It's obvious this film is not for everyone. Stay with the film up to the end to reap the benefit of watching two of the best minds in film making at work.