Les diables

I had a strange impression leaving the theater after "Les diables". I needed some hours to get back to reality. In some movies, you really have to convince yourself that the actors are really comedians, because they play in an amazing way.

This movie tell us about a little 12 years old boy, Joseph, who's trying to reach his parents' house with his autist sister, Chloe. Both are orpheans and Joseph is the only one who's able to manage his sister. They don't know where the house exactly is, but Chloe often makes a glass-mosaic representing the building. They will follow their path, purchased by cops and educating staff of different institutions.

I have to say that the rythme of the movie, the quality of the screenplay and, of course, the interpretation are all great, and left me the impression that, sometime, beauty is much more simple as what we believe.

A great and sober love movie, hope everybody will have the opportunity to see it.

Les diables is a powerful, delightful, poignant and terribly sad film. Hard to endure in many of its crucial moments. Definitely not a popcorn movie. This is a film with a lot of work in the script and a lot of masterful work in many other aspects.

The acting is not only superb... it's mesmerising. I think about myself directing these two young actors into such a complicated argument and it sort of makes me shiver.

This film seems to explode in your mind. The story is so engaging and powerful, you'll have the same experience many of us already have: it's very difficult to put it away for a long time.

Cinematography is on par and above of the best french contemporary cinematographers. Lighting, locations, wardrobe and the whole aesthetic experience is so subtle that it goes under the skin unnoticed, but with a clear and powerful purpose. The dynamics are all well thought and paced to fit the crudeness of the story.

But, above all, the acting reflects the most difficult human experiences in a world where all the characters have is each other. It's a fearful drive in the territory of love: its beauty, its bitterness, its bright and dark sides. All in all, a film about love where the most unexpected things will happen.

Wow, where did these actors come from? Throughout the film, I was in turmoil who was the better actor, Adele Haenel or Vincent Rottiers. She did an outstanding job in an almost non-speaking role and he was very morose, gloomy and violent as well. I do believe that to get children (although they're almost teens) to act this way is very hard. And to accomplish it in two actors, is very admirable. Ruggia did an excellent job, maybe the casting alone was 90 percent of that.

Without spoilering anything, I would like to comment that the let's say, 'least boring scenes' between Haenel and Rottiers, to use a heavy understatement, have not been shot in a mainstream film, since Maladolescenza (1977) ( http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0076749/ ). I suppose Ruggia didn't care about American distribution, and rightly so. Take into account that Maladolescenza was shot in a very different era, where a lot more was possible, a much more permissive epoque when not EVERY bit of skin was declared porn as it is now, we have to salute Ruggia even more, and Haenel and Rottiers as well. Although ... I don't know what the reason is that Haenel has not made a film since Les Diables, and Rottiers has. If it is because of those 'least boring scenes', then that surely would be a pity, because then we would have lost a potentially great actress.

Joseph(Vincent Rottiers) is constantly running away from one children's home to the next with his non verbal, autistic sister, Chloe(Adele Haenel) who cannot stand to be touched by anyone. Only her brother is able to reach her, and she follows him as would a trained dog. With every escape the pair search for their childhood house, with false memories of a normal home life. They were actually abandoned by their mother at an early age.

The two are caught once again and Chloe begins to improve with the help of a caring worker at the facility they are living at. Joseph resents the fact that his sister no longer needs him and becomes a thief and hooks up with Karim, another troubled boy.

The three children make another getaway and find a house Chloe believes is their childhood residence. They rob the place and Joey burns it down, leading to more problems with the law, which are dealt with in an interesting manner. Les Diables is depressing but very realistic, and the two leads are extremely talented. They alone, are worth the price of admission.

To Karl, who practically took a swing at the director of this fabulous film, honestly you have no idea.

Please do tell me why this film was so bad? I found it inspiring and uplifting in a sense. I myself have an autistic brother and your dreadful use of the word "feral" was quite offensive.

To say it was one of the worst films you have ever seen is a complete utter joke. The director and actors have put countless hours into this film and the intriguing storyline was moving. Many movies out there either have no storyline or lack of effort in not only the directing of the film but the lack of professionalism on the actors behalf.

Again, I think you need to look at this film from a different angle as it seems you have only looked at it from a selfish point of view.

For the record, I thought it was an astounding film, absolutely magnificent performances by Vincent and Adele. Top work!