Les petits vagabonds

César, a boy of ten, and his little sister Aimée, barely eight, have known only the harsh cobbles of Paris and the flicker of strangers’ pity. Orphaned before they can recall a mother’s touch, they survive by sharing wilted bouquets with passers‑by and sleeping side‑by‑side on a tattered pallet in the humble home of their reluctant guardian, Joseph Ledoux. Their world is a quiet search for meaning, a longing to understand the mystery of “found children” and the absent faces of the parents they never met.

A surprising companion walks with them—a gaunt, scruffy caniche named Balthasar. Though overlooked for his shabby coat, the dog possesses a keen mind and an unwavering loyalty that often saves the siblings from danger and empties of hope. Together, the trio navigates the bustling streets, finding moments of tenderness amid the relentless struggle for survival.