Virginie Efira stars in Les Enfants des autres as a 40-year-old childless woman who discovers a deep and unexpected attachment to her new partner's daughter. Directed and written by Rebecca Zlotowski, this French drama explores contemporary family relationships, the desire for motherhood and the emotional complexity of blended families. Presented at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, the film also reunites Roschdy Zem and Chiara Mastroianni.
From the director of Une fille facile and Grand Central, Les Enfants des autres tackles a theme rarely explored on screen: parental love without direct filiation.
Les Enfants des autres will be available on Netflix from August 16, 2025.
Synopsis: Rachel is 40 and has no children. She loves her life: her high school students, her friends, her exes, her guitar lessons. When she falls in love with Ali, she becomes attached to Leila, her 4-year-old daughter. She tucks her in, cares for her and loves her as her own. But loving other people's children is a risk worth taking...
Les Enfants des autres (Other People's Children) could appeal to an audience sensitive to intimate, realistic stories, particularly those interested in women's journeys, blended families and unconventional emotional relationships. The film could evoke themes similar to those developed in Une femme d'exception(On the Basis of Sex), with its focus on women's choices in life, or Two, with its sensitivity to unconventional love affairs. It will also appeal to fans of French auteur cinema and viewers interested in the place of emotions in family dynamics.
The film was presented in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, and was well received on its theatrical release in France. Rebecca Zlotowski, director of Une fille facile, continues her exploration of female figures through an intimate approach. The presence of Virginie Efira, already noticed in nuanced roles such as Revoir Paris, reinforces the emotional dimension of the story. Filming took place mainly in Paris, in everyday settings that anchor the film in an accessible reality.
With Les Enfants des autres, Rebecca Zlotowski offers a story rooted in everyday life, supported by a solid cast and universal themes. The film explores the complex feelings associated with motherhood, life choices and attachment. Through the eyes of Virginie Efira, viewers are invited to reflect on how bonds are forged beyond blood ties, in a society where family models are evolving. Its broadcast on France 2 offers a wonderful opportunity to discover or rediscover this intimate drama.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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