If you’re looking for cinematic inspiration, sometimes it helps to look outside your comfort zone. The pithy comment when describing the films of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne is that they make films where nothing happens, and I had no interest in seeing that. They have continued to win awards and acclaim, and that’s because of the other half of that sentiment. In their films a LOT happens, but most of it is unspoken. Nobody films the back of a head like The Dardennes, following their characters instead of leading them makes the story feel remarkably “in the moment.” Nothing seems staged and because you can’t see the face you’re not sure what the characters are thinking. This creates a tension because you form your own thoughts that may not be lining up. The title also creates mystery. There’s a carpenter and a troubled teen who is clearly not the guy’s son. The carpenter knows more than he’s telling.
What unfolds is a suspense film where the excitement comes from the absence of style. This offers a nice and achievable challenge for any aspiring filmmaker, craft an interesting story that is technically very simple and therefore can be done on a low budget. Meanwhile, use as little dialogue as possible, especially conversations that exist to drive the plot forward. I have now seen 10 films by The Dardennes, 6 of them I love – La Promesse, Rosetta, The Kid With a Bike, The Child, Two Days One Night – and it started with this one.
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