Les Enfants (2005) - film review

After the breakdown of his marriage, fifty-something Pierre resolves to do the best for his two sons – fourteen-year-old Victor and nine-year-old Thomas.  To that end, he sets about looking for a larger apartment, hoping to make their stay with him more comfortable.  His home-hunting is quickly derailed when he falls head-over-heels in love with estate agent Jeanne.  A passionate love affair quickly ensues and Jeanne persuades Pierre to move in with her.  The only problem is that she is also divorced and has two young children of her own.   With four youngsters from two broken homes living under the same roof, Jeanne and Pierre soon find their relationship pushed to breaking point...

Anyone who enjoyed Christian Vincent’s beguiling 1994 film La Séparation is encouraged to take a look at this similar, lovingly crafted portrait of domestic strife, which takes a light-hearted look at the stresses and strains that children can place on an adult relationship.  In common with much of his work, Vincent adopts a gentle, naturalist approach which lends the film both authenticity and charm, whilst avoiding the usual clichés which mar many a similar film.   

The performances, are without exception, excellent – and not just the adult leads.   Gérard Lanvin and Karin Viard are convincing both as stressed parents and as a middle-aged couple rediscovering the joys of love.  But, just as impressive, are the four child actors, each of whom looks like a real character rather than, as is so often the case, a child struggling self-consciously to play a role. 

Admittedly, there isn’t much substance to the narrative and, after a while, the film begins to feel a little repetitive, but the overall impression is positive.  Les Enfants is an engaging slice-of-life comedy-drama which entertains whilst offering a sobering reflection of the times we now live in, where children grow up too fast and become both the victims and the cause of a conjugal breakdown.

© James Travers 2008

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