The Moon Child

David is a dermatologist who has cared for Romain since the boy was a baby. Romain, now thirteen, lives with a rare photosensitivity that confines him to shade and shapes almost every part of his life. Over the years David and Romain have formed a deep, almost familial bond, with routines and small comforts holding them steady. When David is told he will be transferred to another clinic in a different town, their steady life is shaken. The film watches how the two men handle the news, how secrets and small gestures carry weight, and how a relationship built on care adapts when distance and change arrive.

Released in 2011, the film was directed by Delphine Gleize and features Vincent Lindon as David and Emmanuelle Devos as Carlotta, with Quentin Challal playing Romain. The cast also includes Caroline Proust and Nathalie Boutefeu.

The Moon Child had a limited theatrical release and did not generate widely reported box office figures. Its run was mainly within French and art house circuits rather than broad commercial distribution.

Though not a mainstream hit, the film has been noted for its quiet, observational style and for the performances of its leads. Critics often mentioned the sensitive handling of illness and dependency, and the way light and shadow are used as a visual motif. Viewer ratings sit in the mid range, reflecting mixed but appreciative responses to its tone and pacing.

Audiences and some reviewers have pointed to memorable, understated scenes rather than big set pieces, and the film has a modest afterlife among fans of intimate drama. Lindon and Devos are often singled out for bringing nuance to characters who speak more through actions than dialogue, and the movie remains of interest to viewers drawn to character-driven stories about care, trust, and the fragile structures that hold everyday life together.