Le P'tit curieux (2004)
Directed by Jean Marboeuf

Film Review

Le P'tit curieux makes a worthy attempt to show us how differently children see the world compared with adults but a third-rate script and some generally uninspired direction from Jean Marboeuf pretty well puts the kibosh on what initially promises to be an innovative film about childhood. Beset with a wishy-washy narrative that meanders all over the place and characters that are so thinly sketched they are almost invisible to the naked eye, the film quickly loses its charm and soon becomes a chore to sit through. Marboeuf appears singularly unenthused by the film - his direction shows a clinical detachment and lack of involvement with the subject matter that is an instant turn off. This is surprising as he directed a number of interesting films (albeit most were for television) including an informative biopic on the disgraced head of state Maréchal Philippe Pétain. The film does however have one saving grace, in the form of Milan Argaud, the engaging boy actor who, in his first screen role, impresses as the central character Clément. It is with astonishing skill that he takes the focus away from the more experienced cast members (Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Alain Bashung, Andréa Ferréol), who appear frankly bored with the whole proceeding.

Film Synopsis

Clément is a nine-year-old boy with an insatiable curiosity for the world around him.  There are so many things that puzzle him - for instance, why do his mother and father live apart? - but adults are so reluctant to explain things to him.  To find the answers he seeks, he sets out with his digital camera to conduct his own investigation, surreptitiously taking photographs which he later posts on the internet.  As he scours the peaceful provincial town where he lives, he finds he has no shortage of interesting subjects, whose behaviour makes no sense to him.  Adults appear to be even stranger than he had supposed, especially when they think they are unobserved.  Clément is more grown-up than he looks. He has his own girlfriend, Astrid, whom he loves madly and intends spending the rest of his life with.  One fateful day, the little boy comes across the dead body of a young woman, the victim of a savage assault.  This killing is followed by another and then another, and it seems to the police that a deranged serial killer is at large.  Seeing himself as a detective, Clément sets out to find the murderer before he strikes again...