The Dardennes are very much literalists, so when they invite me to a transcendental ending grafted right out of Pickpocket’s book, I’m going to balk. Bresson’s protagonist is a moral rebel while Dardennes’ is a sociopath. I couldn’t make the connection.

I loved the underbelly Belgium scenery (which the Dardennes excel at) and especially the joy the young couple invent for themselves in the first 30 minutes of the film (which as far as I can tell, is the only joy outside of a scooter or go-cart the Dardennes have ever expressed).