It's Not Me, I Swear!

Director Philippe Falardeau's It's Not Me, I Swear! tells the tale of a 10-year-old boy who acts out in both destructive and self-destructive ways as he watches his parents' marriage fall apart. Léon (Antoine L'Écuyer) is already on the edge before the actual split takes place—setting a bed on fire to stop his mother and father from fighting, and even trying to hang himself in the front yard. But after his mother leaves for Greece, Léon quickly develops into a proficient thief and liar, breaking into nearby houses to steal money in order to finance a trip to join his mom. Léon is helped by a neighbor girl named Léa (Catherine Faucher), who has an equally troubled home life. An exceptionally perceptive tale of children who feel abandoned, the film isn't grim or depressing, but rather filled with as much humor as heartbreak. And while some viewers may consider Léon to be uncommonly precocious for his age—he holds personal religious views, quotes Greek philosophers, and deftly plays Bach on the harpsichord—he's certainly unforgettable. One of those rare films about childhood trauma that resolutely avoids mawkishness and simple solutions, this is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)