Les Diables
| Les Diables | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Christophe Ruggia |
| Produced by | Bertrand Faivre |
| Written by |
Olivier Lorelle Christophe Ruggia |
| Starring |
Adèle Haenel Vincent Rottiers |
| Music by | Fowzi Guerdjou |
| Cinematography | Eric Guichard |
| Edited by | Tina Baz-Legal |
| Distributed by | Océan Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Les Diables (English: The Devils) is a 2002 French drama film from director Christophe Ruggia starring Adèle Haenel and Vincent Rottiers.
Plot
Joseph is a 12-year-old boy running from children's home to children's home with his autistic sister Chloé in tow. Chloé cannot bear to be touched, following only Joseph's commands as instruction. Joseph is fiercely protective of her as they flee the authorities to find their way home, back to the parents he believes abandoned them many years ago. They cling to a distant memory of a picturesque house, Chloé is able to construct it exactly the same each time, using the pieces of broken colored glass, she carries with her everywhere. Their plan is short-lived however, when they are caught and returned to yet another care home. Joseph wastes no time in stealing from his room-mates and demanding the two be left alone. Chloé makes great progress however with her carer, who is able to assess her condition and continue her care. Joseph quietly resents this new control in her life and is soon discovered to be a thief by his roommate, Karim who develops a begrudging respect for him. Their situation worsens still when a figure from his and Chloé's past returns and reveals a secret which enrages Joseph who lashes out violently and flees with Chloé. Pursued through Marseilles as Joseph steals his way from one situation to the next, Chloé is determined to find the home she can picture so vividly. They meet up with Karim, himself escaped from children's care, with big plans about how he and Joseph can make money. Chloé leads them to a house she believes to be home. They break in and while Karim robs it, Chloé lovingly embraces her new surroundings. Joseph sees threat in this and burns the house to the ground, the three of them escaping the burning building. Chloé and Joseph share a moment where for the first time she allows Joseph to take her hand, as a reassurance she will not leave him. The police soon arrive, with Joseph hysterically dragged away and with Chloé this time placed in a secure psychiatric facility. Without Chloé, Joseph descends further into depression and violent behaviour, attempting even suicide. His savior is Karim, whose gang violently beats Joseph's accompanying officers to free him. Karim knows where Chloé is and has a plan and after this plan Joseph and Chloé's life and indeed their relationship will change forever in ways they could never imagine.
Cast
- Adèle Haenel as Chloé
- Vincent Rottiers as Joseph
- Rochdy Labidi as Karim
- Jacques Bonnaffé as Doran
- Aurélia Petit as Joseph's mother
- Galamelah Lagra as Djamel
- Frédéric Pierrot as The House Man