简介：Alfredliveswithhismotherinasmallvillage,keepingchickensandsellingeggsatthelocalmarket.Hedoesn'tspeak,excepttohismotherandtochildren.Hehasagirlfriendofsorts,althoughheshiesawayfromanyphysicalcontactwithher.Butmorethananything,Alfredwantsachild.Asnaturalfatherhoodisoutofthequestionhetakesthenextbestoption,andmakesanapplicationtoadopt.Withaveryun-FrenchlackofbureaucracyAlfred'sadoptivesonarrives,butturnsoutnottobethebouncingbabyhewashopingfor.MorequietlyoddballthanDelphineGleize'sfirstfeatureCarnages(winneroftheBFI'sSutherlandAwardin2002),andfilmedusingamoremutedpalette,thisisstilladistinctlybizarretale.TheabsurdcomedyofthesituationmakesAlfred'seffortstobeagoodparentallthemoretouching,andourheartsgoouttohimashestruggleswithlearninghowtogiveandreceivelove.Despitebeingalmostwordlessthroughout,DarryCowlsucceedsingivingawonderfullyexpressiveperformanceasAlfred,butitisveteranactressEstherGorintinwhostealstheshowashisunconditionallylovingmother. SandraHebron…