Ricky (2009)

You have to see this delightful French movie about a "magic baby." It is perfection. The story is imaginative, the child actors are sublime, and the adults aren't bad either. Director François Ozon (I loved Under the Sand (2000), 8 Women (2002), and Swimming Pool (2003)) "liberally" adapted the screenplay from the short story “Moth” by English author Rose Tremain (though that fact is omitted by imdb). Let's start with the baby. About a year old, Ricky (tiny Arthur Peyret) is the cutest and his every movement and sound is realistic. For his snorts while nursing to his coos and shrieks and offscreen wailing, props go out to the sound editing department, and we can only guess how many camera takes it took to show him kicking in his crib and flailing about in the "magic" sequences. Then there's Ricky's seven-year-old sister Lisa (Mélusine Mayance), who could not be farther from the "staring simpleton" in the 2010 Oscar nominated short Magic Fish. Mademoiselle Mayance portrays a full range of emotions and is also adorable. Lovely Alexandra Lamy plays the mother, a desperate factory worker living in council housing (that's the projects to us Yanks) and Sergi López (scary in With a Friend Like Harry (2000), which I loved, and terrifying in Pan's Labyrinth (2006), which many loved but I hated for his character's sadism) is the Spanish man whom she meets at the factory, who is (for a change) not creepy.

The trailer hints at what is magical about Ricky. I had not seen the trailer and I guessed just before the reveal. But even if you know, the movie isn't spoiled. Closing tonight in our burg, it's not yet out on DVD. I hope you remember why you added it to your list when it's released...the poster might help. The movie is R rated, so don't bring your kids unless you're OK with their seeing how babies are made. At 89 minutes, it's compact, so stay until the end for a bonus credit. I started translating it, but before I finished, the subtitle appeared on the screen. Staying will also give you the opportunity to listen to the rest of the Phillippe Rombi (Under the Sand, Swimming Pool, many more) soundtrack, which also includes a song by Cat Power. If you don't mind spoilers, or are lucky enough to have seen it already, here's a press kit.