The first feature film of Helene Angel, who has won several prizes for her short films, Peau d'Homme, Coeur de Bete uses the point of view of children to focus on a tragedy that befalls a family. After fifteen years of absence, a man returns to his family. Five-year-old Aurelie watches the stranger arrive and develops an immediate affinity with him. Her older sister, however, is very suspicious of the intruder and certain that misfortune will follow. The adults see nothing, but struggle with all their might when tragedy strikes. Naturally, the two girls bear the brunt of the impact. The film is an homage to the distant and primitive world of childhood, which shapes each of us. Peau d'Homme, Coeur de Bete received the Golden Leopard at the 1999 Locarno International Film Festival and Serge Riaboukine was awarded a Bronze Leopard as Best Actor.
~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide