Out of the shadows of the house, the rat observes the strange activity of the old man: he just succumbs to the yearning for his mother, who died young. Never tired, he patrols the edge of the forest to tow a pretty Dirn. Because most women are easy prey and can be conveniently stored in the tin box, which guards the Corpora Delicti for the most aggressive kit Mama. But as the past floats back, mingling with the contemporary psyche, the old man first has to worry about the figure behind the gas mask poaching in his hunting ground.

Directed by Christophe Ali, Nicolas Bonilauri, The Rat leans on a strong ensemble — Marcel Fix, Florence Quiqueré, Elsa Joly — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2001.