Drôle de père

I gave this film a watch as it had some ok reviews. Believe me, this film is pointless. There is hardly a story behind it. The ending comes and you think "was that it?" Don't bother, find something else.

The Elephant and the Butterfly is a children's book that five-year-old Elsa likes to hear at bedtime. Elsa is played by Lina Doillon, the daughter of one of the filmmakers, Amélie van Emblt, in one of most naturalistic and engaging film performances by a child that I've ever seen.

This film follows three summer days in the lives of Elsa and her father, Antoine, (Thomas Blanchard, who plays this new father in a real and endearing way), whom Elsa first meets when Antoine returns to Liège, Brussels after being away learning to be a chef. Antoine stops by to see Elsa's mother, Camille, (Judith Chemla), whom he used to be in a relationship with, just as she is headed out to catch a flight to an important business meeting. On the spur of the moment, Camille, who is clearly ruffled by Antoine's unexpected appearance, asks him to watch Elsa until the babysitter comes.

The babysitter never shows up, and so a few minutes of watching Elsa turns into a few days. Father and daughter are elephant and butterfly as they get to know each other in this beautifully made slice-of-life film that is focused on the organic and lovely way their relationship unfolds as the two realize they love each other. The filmmakers do not explain why Antoine left and didn't see his daughter. Sometimes I don't want a story to spell everything out for me. I liked that we, the audience, were left to fill in the blanks.

This is a wonderful film for those, like me, who gravitate to character studies. Few films stick with me after they end like this one did. Thank goodness for art house movies.

Produced by the Dardenne brothers and Martin Scorsese.

Beautifully observed. Strong leads with an amazing chemistry that seems to draw in all the other characters as the story progresses. The emotion in the final scenes is particularly powerful.

A simple story beautifully told and well acted. The star is the little girl - watch out for her as a budding actress. Her acting brings tears to the eyes at times.

Filming locations are lovely and interiors are carefully chosen. Really enjoyed this one and thoroughly recommend it for when you're in a more pensive mood.

I was not familiar with the names of either Belgian director Amélie van Elmbt or the actors involved; however a film produced by the Dardenne brothers with Scorsese as executive producer catches your attention instantly and requires a viewing. I was amply rewarded. The French title is Drôle de Père, something like funny/strange father which is a little more descriptive that the English title The Elephant and the Butterfly, the name of a children's tale that little Elsa likes to hear again and again as bedtime story.

The plot: circumstances compel Antoine, an absent father for years, to take care of her five year old daughter Elsa for a day and a night. Elsa who misses the father she never really knew thinks at the beginning that Antoine is just her mother's friend. What the film shows is an acquaintance that begins with a wary mutual acceptance (with some guilt on Antoine's part) and, in the course of a day grows into a loving relationship with (perhaps) a future. The story is open ended and the rest is left for us to imagine.

Nothing much happens on screen beyond the efforts (mostly, but not always successful) of a grownup to entertain a child, which includes visits to parks, beaches and at times the help of various relatives and friends. The script by the director and Matthieu de Braconier is exceptionally good. Characters are defined by their actions, there are no explanatory flashbacks and information is sometimes partial or missing as in real life. The universe of five year old Elsa is masterfully depicted, with its childish naiveté combined with the keen intuition for goodness children seem to be born with, and is many times dulled in later years by life experiences. Music and cinematography fit the tale perfectly.

It would be difficult to find fault with this film. Perhaps the beginning is a little contrived and there are some rough edges to the (otherwise excellent) acting, but this is a superior work, not to be missed. It is the second feature film by director van Elmbt, and I hope to see more of her work.