The Giants

A curious French drama that is both gritty and fanciful, The Giants is a dark fairy tale about three young boys trying to survive in a world of abandonment, abuse, and treachery. Brothers Zak (Zacharie Chasseriaud) and Seth (Martin Nissen) live in their deceased grandfather's house in a rural, grim community (their mother has left for unspecified reasons and has no concrete plan for coming back). Short on money and food, the siblings spend their time driving the family car over country roads and hanging out with Danny (Paul Bartel), the tortured younger brother of a monstrous, low-level drug enforcer (Karim Leklou). When things go from bad to worse, Zak and Seth agree to rent their house to a pot-growing scumbag—who naturally bamboozles them, ultimately leaving all three boys to fend for themselves in the woods. Marthe Keller has a small role as a compassionate stranger who takes the kids in for a bit, but filmmaker Bouli Lanners is mostly interested in exploring what happens when the desperate characters run out of options. The result plays something like a cross between Mark Twain and the Brothers Grimm, although Lanners ultimately takes the story in a not-quite-earned mythic direction. A strong optional purchase. (T. Keogh)