Our Children review

Inspired by a real case of Belgian matricide, Our Children demonstrates the power of fiction to illuminate a tragedy which society would prefer to dismiss as “monstrous”.

Reuniting the stars of A Prophet (Tahar Rahim and Niels Arestrup) alongside Émilie Dequenne, director Joachim Lafosse uses long, patient takes to explore the deteriorating relationship between parents Murielle (Dequenne) and Mounir (Rahim).

Expertly avoiding sensationalism, this potently acted drama reminds us of Jean Renoir’s celebrated dictum, that everyone has their reasons.