For well over a decade, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have produced highly original and ethically charged films that immerse their audience in an intense, embodied viewing experience. Their work has consistently won international recognition, including the rare feat of two Palmes d'or at Cannes._x000B__x000B_In this first book-length study, Joseph Mai examines the career of the influential Belgian brothers, providing sophisticated close analyses of their directorial style and exploring the many philosophical issues dealt with in their films (especially the ethics of Emmanuel Levinas). In films such as La promesse, Rosetta, The Son, and The Child, the brothers have recast their filmmaking through what Mai calls a "sensuous realism?--realism capable of touching their viewers with the social problems and moral dilemmas of contemporary society. This volume also features an interview in which the Dardennes discuss their approach to film production and directing._x000B_