Les Mains libres (The Free Hands) is a 2010 French drama film directed by Brigitte Sy. It stars Ronit Elkabetz, Carlo Brandt, and Noémie Lvovsky. It was released theatrically in France on 16 June 2010. It is a feature-length prequel to Sy's 2008 short film, L'Endroit idéal.^[1]

This article needs an improved plot summary. (October 2015)

Barbara (Elkabetz) is a filmmaker developing a film written and acted by prison inmates in Paris. She defies legal boundaries, unleashing a series of consequences when she forms a deep romantic relationship with Michel (Brandt), an inmate involved in the film project.^[2]

• Ronit Elkabetz as Barbara
• Carlo Brandt as Michel
• Noémie Lvovsky as Rita
• Camille Figuereo as Chloé
• Adama Doumbia as Roel
• Denis Maréchal as Fifi
• Gurgon Kyap as James
• Abdelhafid Metalsi as Mouloud
• Xavier Legrand as Laurent
• Ahmed M'Hemdi as Bouda
• François Négret as Sergueï
• Alain Ollivier as Le directeur de la prison
• Sasha Andres as Marie-Pierre
• Dominique Frot as La juge
• Brigitte Sy as Le femme blonde

Thomas Baurez of L'Express, described it as "intelligent, gracious and humble.. a love story of the purest sense of the term."^[3] Lucie Calet of Le Nouvel Observateur, continued that it is a "Greek tragedy" of "great dignity."^[4] Le Figaro praised the depiction of the tangible reality of the film as well as Eliabetz' superb and dark performance, evoking traits of the Madonna.^[5]

The film was warmly received by The New Yorker; "with calm and nuanced images, Sy captures emotionally unguarded characters locked in the gaze of prying eyes; with brusque, quiet action and incisive, tight-lipped dialogue, she sets a gripping plot in motion while keeping it close to the heart."^[6]