Nicholas Guérin's parents are involved with small-scale drug dealing. During a police chase his father crashes his car, killing himself and landing his wife in jail. Thirteen year old Nicholas (Erwan Demaure) gets placed with foster parents, the Delmas family (Christian Crahay and Nathalie Willame), a really nice couple who go out of their way to accommodate the boy. Their daughter Elodie (Stéphane Caillard) is unfortunately the opposite, and quite bitchy.
Nicholas visits his mother Laetitia (Isabelle Habiague) in jail and learns that she may be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. A very long time by the boy's reckoning. He starts to think of ways to get his mother out of jail. At the jail he meets an older lad, Tanker (Ouassini Embarek), whose father, a gangster, is also imprisoned. The two boys become friends. It looks as if Tanker is a bad influence on Nicholas; they go shop-lifting, although Nicholas has enough money to buy the items. At school Nicholas gets taunted for his mother being in jail and even assaulted by a bully. Tanker comes to his rescue. Nicholas invites Tanker to his 'new' home, where Tanker seems to take a liking to Elodie.
Nicholas is seriously hatching a plan to get his mother escape jail. He decides he will fake his death and at his 'funeral' overwhelm the prison guards who are with his mother, and make a run for it. For 'his' body he will unearth the corpse of another person who died recently, and burn it unrecognizable. He shares his plan with an enthusiastic Tanker. Elodie, who fortunately has become more friendly, hears about their plans and asks to join them. Nicholas reluctantly agrees. They don't have much choice; either that or she spills the beans. She turns out to be quite valuable with practical suggestions. There are a lot to be arranged: a corpse, a get-away car, a gun
'Breakin' Out' is a delightful film full of unexpected twists and turns. The acting by Nicholas, Tanker and Elodie is quite good, but unfortunately the casting of Nicholas is somewhat off the mark. Instead of a vulnerable thirteen year old, we get a streetwise guy who looks sixteen, and that reduces the impact of the film. The script is lively and that is one of the film's strong points. The sound track and cinematography are above average too. There are a few minor plot-holes which the observant viewer may pick up, but they are pretty insignificant. I still score this entertaining film a very good 7.5/10.
Nicholas visits his mother Laetitia (Isabelle Habiague) in jail and learns that she may be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. A very long time by the boy's reckoning. He starts to think of ways to get his mother out of jail. At the jail he meets an older lad, Tanker (Ouassini Embarek), whose father, a gangster, is also imprisoned. The two boys become friends. It looks as if Tanker is a bad influence on Nicholas; they go shop-lifting, although Nicholas has enough money to buy the items. At school Nicholas gets taunted for his mother being in jail and even assaulted by a bully. Tanker comes to his rescue. Nicholas invites Tanker to his 'new' home, where Tanker seems to take a liking to Elodie.
Nicholas is seriously hatching a plan to get his mother escape jail. He decides he will fake his death and at his 'funeral' overwhelm the prison guards who are with his mother, and make a run for it. For 'his' body he will unearth the corpse of another person who died recently, and burn it unrecognizable. He shares his plan with an enthusiastic Tanker. Elodie, who fortunately has become more friendly, hears about their plans and asks to join them. Nicholas reluctantly agrees. They don't have much choice; either that or she spills the beans. She turns out to be quite valuable with practical suggestions. There are a lot to be arranged: a corpse, a get-away car, a gun
'Breakin' Out' is a delightful film full of unexpected twists and turns. The acting by Nicholas, Tanker and Elodie is quite good, but unfortunately the casting of Nicholas is somewhat off the mark. Instead of a vulnerable thirteen year old, we get a streetwise guy who looks sixteen, and that reduces the impact of the film. The script is lively and that is one of the film's strong points. The sound track and cinematography are above average too. There are a few minor plot-holes which the observant viewer may pick up, but they are pretty insignificant. I still score this entertaining film a very good 7.5/10.