Fridae

While mainstream moviegoers are flocking to Mission: Impossible
3, arthouse lovers will swoon over French gem L'Enfant.
It is one of the most acclaimed films of 2005, having won Cannes
Film Festival's prestigious top prize, the Palm d'Or, last year.
It is directed by brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, who in
1999 also snagged the Palm d'Or for a film titled Rosetta.

L'Enfant tells a poignant tale of a cold-hearted thief
and hustler, Jeremie Renier, who has absolutely no morals. When
his girlfriend returns from the hospital with their 9-day-old baby,
Jeremy decides to sell the child to an adoption ring in exchange
for some cold hard cash. At first, he thinks nothing of the act.
But slowly, he starts to regret the decision and tries to get the
baby back.

On the surface, the title seems to be referring to the child, but
the film is really about Jeremie and his belated discovery that,
like other people, he too has a conscience. In its quiet and unassuming
way, the film shows how difficult it is for poor people to care
about what's right and what's wrong when all they're worrying about
is how to get their next meal. Morality and conscience are luxuries
that only the middle- and upper-classes can afford. As the film
slowly inches its way towards redemption, this grim and honest film
will break your heart.

(For mainstream movie lovers, be warned: This film is glacially
slow. If you cannot appreciate the naturalistic artistry of say,
Hou Hsiao-Hsien's Three Times, avoid L'Enfant
like a bad case of syphilis.)