L'enfant d'en haut

L’ENFANT D’EN HAUT follows twelve-year-old Simon, who lives in a valley below a luxury ski resort and survives through small-scale theft. While affluent tourists enjoy their holidays above, Simon moves between worlds—unseen, resourceful, and largely on his own. His relationship with his older sister Louise is both close and unstable, shaped by shifting roles and unspoken needs. Simon’s daily life is defined by improvisation and a level of responsibility far beyond his years. He secures food, money, and a semblance of order, while Louise struggles to provide stability. Their bond forms a complex web of dependency, care, and quiet tension. As Simon’s independence grows, the fractures in their relationship become increasingly visible. The film examines social inequality and the mechanisms of survival within a sharply divided environment. Above, consumption and leisure; below, scarcity and uncertainty—L’ENFANT D’EN HAUT renders this contrast without overt commentary. Its focus remains on the child’s perspective and the question of how early responsibility shapes identity. L’ENFANT D’EN HAUT was awarded the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, further establishing Ursula Meier as a precise observer of social realities. Featuring Kacey Mottet Klein and Léa Seydoux, the film offers an intimate portrait of an unconventional sibling relationship. A restrained yet lasting work that invites reflection.