In a completely uncomplicated story, almost 12-year-old Cyril is desperate to find his father, who put him in an orphanage for a month and then moved somewhere. The camera everywhere accompanies almost never parting with the bike boy, then watching with interest his search in a bar or at a gas station, then recording the most subtle motives and experiences of the boy in dialogue with other characters.
The characters of only 4-5 main characters are brilliantly revealed by the creators of the picture solely in their connection with the fate of Cyril. The stubbornness of the child, who is ready to climb out the window for the sake of his goal, is dictated by his incredible faith in the correctness of the world, where if the father is necessarily kind and caring, and if a friend, then you need to help completely unselfishly. These qualities as a touchstone penetrate into the soul of other heroes.
The viewer notices that Samantha, as if spontaneously deciding to take Cyril to her home for the weekend, is selflessly fighting for the fate of the child. Attracted either by the desperation of the boy, or by the sincerity of his feelings, she approaches his upbringing with cautious tenacity. This same sincerity of Cyril eventually infuriates his new “friend”, and the boy’s father makes him feel very uncomfortable. Jeremi Rainier, who played an unlucky parent, not far from his image of Bruno in the film “Child”, who profitably tried to get rid of unnecessary burdens.
Surprisingly, only by the actions of their heroes - without a specially whipped atmosphere or spectacular moments - the Dardenne brothers are able to keep viewers at the screen to the very last frames. And the traffic noise and rapid breathing of a guy pedaling, better than any musical background, talk about the desire for some very real and important goal.
9 out of 10
Original