This is My Mother (La Vie de ma mere)

Julien Carpentier I 2024 I 105 min. I France

Showings

Manhasset Cinemas Mon, Oct 21 7:00 PM
Film Info
Type of Film/Event:Feature
Narrative
Foreign Film
Release Year:2024
Running Time:105
Production Country:France
Original Language:French
Subtitles:with English subtitles
Cast/Crew Info
Cast:William Lebghil
Agnès Jaoui
Alison Wheeler
Salif Cissé
Director:Julien Carpentier
Screenwriter:Julien Carpentier
Benjamin Garnier

Description

An ode to the complexity, particularity, and beauty of the love between mother and child.

Pierre, a 33-year-old florist, has his life on track. He has a successful business and a budding love interest. This pleasant routine is disrupted when his mother, Judith, surprises him by cropping up after years of no contact. Judith, who is in residential treatment for bipolar disorder, has escaped from her clinic, bringing along some baggage: a stormy combination of exhilaration, excess, and chaos.

As Pierre tries to swiftly steer her back to the clinic so he can return to his distinctly different status quo, they take a meandering route. Along the way, they unearth a painful history, clash over life philosophies, and ultimately their surprise reunion brings them closer. Changed by the journey, Pierre finds the understanding and space to reintegrate his mother into his life. And his new lover supports it.

A beautiful film anchored in strong performances, a sharp script, and a deep understanding of mental illness and how it manifests within a familial context.