The Blow: Julien Gaspar-Oliveri’s modest but hard-hitting drama shows the reactions of two siblings who live on their own when their father is about to be released from prison. The sister wants nothing to do with him, while the brother seems to want back a life he may never have had before. It’s a sad and hard-to-watch film, but it’s also somewhat unsurprising. The characters feel realistic, and the naturalistic performances help: Diego Murgia plays the brother, and his deeply ingrained issues are clear; Romane Fringeli, as the sister, is a ball of rage and sisterly love; Bastien Bouillon, as the father, has equal measures of charm and sleaziness. Director of photography Martin Rit uses an intimate handheld camera that fits the story quite well, without sacrificing poetry in his tightest shots. Editor Baptiste Petit-Gats gives the film a good pace that doesn’t waste much.