Les Enfants des autres / Other People's Children

Rebecca Zlotowski: Les Enfants des autres / Other People's Children (FR 2021). "The sandwich" made of Virginie Efira (Rachel Friedmann), Callie Ferreira-Goncalves (Leïla) and Roschdy Zem (Ali Ben Attia). 

Muiden lapset / Andra människors barn.
    FR © 2021 Les Films Velvet / France 3 Cinéma. P: Frédéric Jouve.
    D+SC: Rebecca Zlotowski. Cin: George Lechaptois – colour – 2,39:1 – released on DCP. PD: Katia Wyszkop. Cost: Bénédicte Mouret-Cherqui. Makeup: Amélie Bouilly. Hair: Rudy Marmet. M: Robin Coudert. Co-composer: Gael Rakotondrabel. M supervisors: Lucas de Moidrey, Jeanne Trellu. S: Thomas Desjonquères. ED: Géraldine Mangenot. Casting: Christel Baras.
    C: Virginie Efira (Rachel Friedmann), Roschdy Zem (Ali Ben Attia), Chiara Mastroianni (Alice), Callie Ferreira-Goncalves (Leïla), Yamée Couture (Louana Friedmann), Henri-Noël Tabary (Vincent), Victor Lefebvre (Dylan Leklou), Sébastien Pouderoux (Paul), Mireille Perrier (Madame Roucheray), Frederick Wiseman (Le docteur Wiseman, le gynécologue), Antonia Buresi (Mia), Marlene Saldana (Soraya), Anne Berest (Jeanne), Marwen Okbi (Tarik).
    103 min
    In French and Hebrew.
    Film clip from: Les Liaisons dangereuses (FR/IT 1959, D: Roger Vadim).
    Soundtrack selections include:

– Antonio Vivaldi: Mandolin Concerto in C major, RV 425 I. Allegro
– Thelonious Monk: "Pannonica" perf. Thelonious Monk.
– "Cocaine Blues" (Gary Davis) perf. Dave Van Ronk
– "Again" (comp. Lionel Newman, lyr. Dorcas Cochran) perf. Doris Day
– "Les Eaux de Mars" ("Águas de Março") (comp. + lyr. Antonio Carlos Jobim, French lyr. Georges Moustaki) perf. Georges Moustaki
    Loc: – Paris: Tour Eiffel ; Métro Pereire, Paris 17. – Camargue. – April 2021.

    Festival premiere: 4 Sep 2022 Venice Film Festival.
    Sortie en France et Belgique: 21 Sep 2022.
    Premiere in Finland: 7 July 2023 – released by Cinema Mondo – Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Outi Kainulainen / Frej Grönholm.
    Viewed at Finnkino Strand 2, Iso Kristiina, Lappeenranta, 8 July 2023.

IMDb: " A childless woman forms a deep bond with her boyfriend's young daughter. "

    Press kit: " Rachel is 40 years old and childless. She loves her life: her high school students, her friends, her ex, her guitar lessons. When she falls in love with Ali, she becomes attached to Leila, his 4-year-old daughter. She tucks her into bed, cares for her, loves her like her own. But loving other people’s children is risky. "

AA: Au-delà de cette limite votre ticket n'est plus valable (Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid), the novel by Romain Gary about male impotence, inspired Rebecca Zlotowski to make this film, but she turned the protagonist from a man to a woman, who at age 40 recognizes the urge to become a mother. Alas, she does not succeed, but in a beautiful case of life inspired by art, the director herself became a mother during the production.

The theme is increasingly topical from both male and female viewpoints. I have just been reading an interview with Dr. Shanna Shaw about the falling sperm count worldwide, evidently caused by the use of plastic and toxic chemicals including phthalates and pesticides.

Rachel (Virginie Efira) is a teacher who meets the separated father Ali (Roschdy Zem) during a guitar lesson. They have a beautiful and passionate love affair, and Rachel also grows increasingly fond of Ali's 4-year-old daughter Leïla. But finally Ali decides to return to Leïla's mother Alice (Chiara Mastroianni) to raise the daughter together with her.

Les Enfants des autres belongs to the anti-melodramatic (even anti-dramatic) school of wisdom in French cinema, best known for the films of Claude Sautet. It is a contemporary family story set in the world of blended families, in this case leading to the restoration of the original nuclear family. 

The performances are convincing and deeply felt. Les Enfants des autres also records subtle shifts of perspectives in contemporary relationships. Although Ali's actions are decisive, and he is able to make or break the relationship with Rachel, he is not the traditional patriarchal male, but a sensitive and considerate modern man.

Les Enfants des autres is a sensual film. There is no shortage of frank and passionate love scenes. Again it is evident that women directors have greater talent in conveying them. There is a feeling of true arousal and consummation. In the extended shower sequence it is the clothed Rachel whose gaze is turned on the nude Ali.

Rachel Friedmann is Jewish, and Jewish life in Paris with its holidays and gatherings brings a particular rhythm to the narrative. The life-affirming approach of Jews to matters of love and family provides a warm social context. Ironically, Rachel's sister Louana becomes surprisingly pregnant and gives birth to a baby during Rachel's ordeal. The family gynecologist is played by Frederic Wiseman, the venerable 93-year old maestro of documentary film.

The film has been shot in Paris, but the "sandwich trio" of Rachel, Leïla and Ali also pay a weekend visit to the Camargue delta. The flamingos, the white Camarguais horses and the bullfights bring about a vivid change of scenery.

Speaking of the scenery, there has been a curious rehabilitation of the Eiffel Tower in recent French cinema. Even this film starts with a view of the landmark. There is a sense of it being so far beyond cliché that it can be reappropriated for a range of meanings, most importantly involving transcendence. Like church towers, also secular towers are about reaching for the beyond.

Virginia Efira has become an eloquent and versatile presence in recent films including Benedetta, Revoir Paris and Les Enfants des autres. Her presence is deeply moving as a committed teacher, a woman in love, a tender guardian of the child, a woman betrayed and a dignified lady in the epilogue.

"My time is up" was the original concept, but such a statement could not be farther from the truth in this story. "It takes a village to raise a child". Everyone can contribute to the education of the children and the young. A main character is the problem schoolboy Dylan who is about to be expelled and who fails miserably even in work training. Only thanks to the trust and commitment of Rachel and her colleagues he gets continued support, and in the epilogue there is a peripeteia at the restaurant between Rachel and the grown-up Dylan who has for years wanted to find Rachel in order to thank her.