Other People's Children

Other People's Children - a film by Rebecca Zlotowksi
Other People's Children - a film by Rebecca Zlotowksi
Other People's Children - a film by Rebecca Zlotowksi
NOW AVAILABLE TO OWN OR VIEW ON DEMAND
Other People's Children - a film by Rebecca Zlotowksi
One of the year’s very best films, Zlotowski’s sweetly sensitive exploration of a relationship taking place on the verge of middle age really is a must-see.
Emotionally rich - you won't want to look away. Succeeds largely on the intimacy between actors and camera and the spirited way that Zlotowski mounts each scene. The realism is unforced. It helps that Efira is spectacularly warm on screen. She gives us bucketloads of joy, but we know it can’t last.
Poignant and appealing. An everyday story that unfolds with deceptive simplicity, delving into the lives and the problems of recognisably real characters with delicacy and nuance. Handled with dexterity and empathy, this is more sympathetic and more absorbing than most other contemporary French films.
A lovely movie. Subtle and surprisingly deeply felt. “Other People’s Children” is romantic — tender, sexy, very French — but even as Rachel’s relationship with Ali deepens, growing more committed and consequently richer and trickier, you never lose sight of the sweep of her life.
Very effective and vivid. With nuance, humour and wisdom, it balances intimate themes with a choral breadth. Efira is effortlessly stylish and buoyant. I like this film a lot - it's definitely one to seek out.
Superb. Bittersweet and beautifully observed. A wise, humane story of second-degree parenting, negotiated with warm intelligence and compassion.
Efira delivers a sublime, wonderfully charismatic performance. Beautifully judged and played, 'Other People’s Children' could and should finally cement Zlotowski’s place in the top class of European auteurs- she’s a talent to be treasured.
Director: Rebecca Zlotowski
Cast: Virginie Efira, Roschdy Zem, Chiara Mastroianni, Callie Ferreira-Goncalves
Duration: 104mins
Country of Origin: France
M
Mature themes, sex scenes, nudity, drug use and coarse language
One of the year’s very best films, Zlotowski’s sweetly sensitive exploration of a relationship taking place on the verge of middle age really is a must-see.
Emotionally rich - you won't want to look away. Succeeds largely on the intimacy between actors and camera and the spirited way that Zlotowski mounts each scene. The realism is unforced. It helps that Efira is spectacularly warm on screen. She gives us bucketloads of joy, but we know it can’t last.
Poignant and appealing. An everyday story that unfolds with deceptive simplicity, delving into the lives and the problems of recognisably real characters with delicacy and nuance. Handled with dexterity and empathy, this is more sympathetic and more absorbing than most other contemporary French films.
A lovely movie. Subtle and surprisingly deeply felt. “Other People’s Children” is romantic — tender, sexy, very French — but even as Rachel’s relationship with Ali deepens, growing more committed and consequently richer and trickier, you never lose sight of the sweep of her life.
Very effective and vivid. With nuance, humour and wisdom, it balances intimate themes with a choral breadth. Efira is effortlessly stylish and buoyant. I like this film a lot - it's definitely one to seek out.
Superb. Bittersweet and beautifully observed. A wise, humane story of second-degree parenting, negotiated with warm intelligence and compassion.
Efira delivers a sublime, wonderfully charismatic performance. Beautifully judged and played, 'Other People’s Children' could and should finally cement Zlotowski’s place in the top class of European auteurs- she’s a talent to be treasured.

WINNER - 2023 LUMIÉRE AWARDS - Best Actress
2022 PRIX LOUIS-DELLUC - Nominee (Best French Film of the Year)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2022 VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (In Competition)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2022 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Special Presentation)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2023 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (Spotlight)

Featuring a career-best performance by the hugely talented Virginie Efira, award-winning writer/director Rebecca Zlotowski’s enchanting and profoundly moving new romantic drama follows a woman whose outlook on life is upended when she starts a passionate relationship with a single father-of-one.

40-year-old Parisian high school teacher Rachel (a radiant Efira) loves her life: she’s inspired by her work and is close to her friends, sister and widowed father. When she meets a man in her community guitar class - the charming and recently-separated Ali (The Innocent's Roschdy Zem) - Rachel commences not only a relationship with him, but also his four-year-old daughter, Leila.

Gradually, Rachel allows herself to be drawn into their world, helping Ali by collecting Leila after school and looking after her on the nights she stays with them; the three start to share holidays together. But there can be no denying Leila already has a mother (Chiara Mastroianni), and Rachel’s yearning for a family of her own is only growing stronger…

Though stories of parenthood and conception are familiar in everyday life, they have rarely been so thoughtfully depicted on screen. Revolving around questions of belonging, connection and emotional risk, OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN depicts not only one woman’s search for fulfillment, it also gets to the heart of what constitutes a rewarding and meaningful life.

Other People's Children - a film by Rebecca Zlotowksi

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NOW AVAILABLE TO OWN OR VIEW ON DEMAND