Keswick Film Festival

Synopsis

Why does a carpenter take on a new apprentice when he is already at capacity? This is a fascinating study of a man who has endured the ultimate loss and has a chance at redemption - or is it the chance to exact revenge?

The base story is quite straightforward but the Dardenne brothers use it in such a way to produce a compassionate and compelling piece of cinema. Their mastery of the camera not only shows you all that needs to be seen but also manages to convey the emotions and feelings of the central character even though we seldom see his face - the shrug of the shoulder or stiffening of the neck is more than enough to tell us all we need to know.

Winner Cannes Film Festival 2002 (Best Actor: Olivier Gourmet)

Winner Lumiere Awards 2002 (Best French Language Film)