L'Enfant (The Child)

Jean-Pierre Dardenne's L'Enfant, winner of the 2005 Palme D'Or (the top prize at Cannes), tells the story of a young couple in Paris. Sonia has just given birth to their first child. She is excited, but Bruno is not sure what to think. You see, he is the most irresponsible human being on the planet. He is a small time thief who spends every cent he gets within the first few hours of it being in his pocket. He rented out their apartment while Sonia was delivering, and now the child's (Jimmy) first few nights outside the hospital have to be spent under a bridge. Great guy, right? So now what do they do? While trying to find things for the baby, Bruno learns that people are willing to pay big money to adopt babies on the black market, with no questions asked. So Bruno considers this option. While Sonia is waiting in a line that could take hours, Bruno takes Jimmy for a walk. But in stead of Jimmy, Bruno brings back a wad of cash. Sonia passes out, and when she wakes up in the hospital she is understandably uber-pissed. He sold their son!
Bruno is a great study in our desire to be free from all responsibility and to never grow up. He wants to wander around and "be free" of everything that would hinder him. Even a child is an imposition upon his lifestyle. He merely wants to run around and have fun. And don't we all. Bruno is the epitome of selfishness. So how do we make the transition into maturity? What goes into that decision? I believe we all resist growing up to some degree, but why do some resist it so much more strongly than others? Remember Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up? It's a popular story for a reason.
So how could someone like that change? What would cause that? Does he change, does he experience redemption? I won't give it away, but the last scene of the film is at once beautiful, heart-breaking, and authentic.
Don't be scared of the film because it is in French. This study of human depravity is gut-wrenching and thought-provoking. It is shot in an extremely minimalist style, with little to detract from the main focus, Bruno, and his struggle to care about other people more than his own selfish desires.