The worst way to punish somebody is to take away what is most dear to them. So when a riot breaks in a factory and things gets over heated between the workers and the management, the only way that Bruno (Jan Hammenecker) can think of being heard, is to take the director’s little boy Leo (Emile Moulron Lejeune), who was temporarily left unattended. A beautiful toddler with big blue eyes. The moment that Bruno, played so well by Jan Hammenecker starts running with the screaming boy in his harms, he realises that there is no turning back. Everyone including his fellow workers plead to him for the boy’s release, but Bruno is too panicked and too angry to listen or to make sense of it all…. and instead he keeps running and running with the boy in his harms.

There is no way of knowing where he is going, or what he is really thinking at that moment, but what it is very clear from this film is that when madness strikes it’s so easy to loose you head and to make irreparable damage. Thankfully there is a moment of peace, and it’s the beautiful and unconditional kindness of this little boy to Bruno that breaks the madness and reinstate clarity.

Little Hands will keep you engaged from the first scene as the pace of the story carries you in a chain of emotions and thoughts that remains long after its ending. The story does not really go into much details as of the why and the who is at fault, but instead just express vividly the outcome of loosing control and doing something you never though you were capable of. It’s interesting to watch how simple is for the madness of the adult world to be tamed by the kindness and innocence of a little boy. There is definitely a great message and teaching that each spectator can reflect on and make his own.

This short film is brilliantly directed by Rémi Allier, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Julien Guetta and Gilles Monnat and so bravely portrays anyone’s worst nightmare. The cinematography gives the movie authenticity and the visual effects brings the most dramatic scene to light. I strongly recommend to watch this film.

Frances Cilla