Scheduled to air on France 2 on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 9:10 p.m., La Petite is a French drama directed by Guillaume Nicloux, co-written with Fanny Chesnel. Released in cinemas in September 2023, the film features Fabrice Luchini, Mara Taquin, and Maud Wyler in a heartfelt story exploring themes of grief, family bonds, and surrogacy. Opened the Francophone Film Festival of Angoulême 2023, it signifies a delicate new direction in the director’s diverse body of work.
Joseph, a lonely sixty-something, is suddenly shattered to learn of his son’s death along with his partner in a tragic accident. The couple was expecting a child conceived through surrogacy in Belgium. Faced with this loss, a pressing question arises: What will happen to the unborn baby, and what role can Joseph rightfully play in this story that has profoundly overwhelmed him?
Encouraged by the promise of this upcoming birth, Joseph makes the decision to meet the young Belgian woman carrying the child. Fierce, independent, and cautious, she embodies both hope and uncertainty. The film follows the slow rebuilding of a man in mourning, as he navigates a new kind of fatherhood—one that exists outside traditional legal and emotional boundaries.
La Petite is an adaptation of Fanny Chesnel's novel Le Berceau. The project was brought to Guillaume Nicloux by producers François Kraus and Denis Pineau-Valencienne, who see in this straightforward story a parallel with recurring themes in his films: disappearance, resilience, and the possibility of renewal. For the director, it offers a chance to explore a stripped-down melodrama, without resorting to fantasy or the complex narrative structures he typically favors.
The film tackles head-on the controversial issue of surrogacy, which is banned in France but unofficially tolerated in Belgium without clear legal guidelines. Guillaume Nicloux explores this contemporary reality from the perspective of men and women involved, without taking a militant stance, allowing for the emergence of the moral, emotional, and social dilemmas surrounding a practice that remains widely debated.
For the first time under Guillaume Nicloux’s direction, Fabrice Luchini takes on a role that defies his usual type. Moving away from his typical rapid-fire, theatrical figures, the actor portrays a man who is completely drained, slowed down, physically fragile, and haunted by a deep, persistent pain. The director favors a working method rooted in trust and silence—a philosophy that also influenced Mara Taquin, who was cast without a formal audition after a casual meeting during scouting in Belgium.
With its restrained tone and economical style, La Petite appeals to viewers who enjoy intimate dramas, those who appreciate stories rooted in genuine human experiences and contemporary issues. The film belongs to a realistic and emotionally driven tradition, standing in contrast to the director’s more experimental or spectacular works, from Thalasso to La Tour.
Our take on La Petite:
Whether you're a fan of Guillaume Nicloux or Fabrice Luchini, La Petite is bound to surprise you. The director offers a charming family film that stands in stark contrast to his recent works. It’s a heartfelt drama about family bonds and grief, anchored by a Luchini unlike any we've seen before. Frustrated, wounded, grieving, and feeling stuck—not only emotionally but physically, as his cervical pain hinders him—his vulnerability as an older man is truly touching. The actor skillfully distances himself from fantasies to focus solely on the raw emotion and the hope of reconnecting with his son's life through his granddaughter.
The story is compact and tight, keeping things brisk enough to avoid boredom. It gets straight to the point, which is a real plus, as the pace is mostly lively—quite a contrast to its lead character, who moves slowly and sometimes clumsily despite his eagerness to meet the young surrogate mother of his deceased son. This bold juxtaposition creates a film that is both delicate and emotionally resonant.
La Petite
Film | 2023
Television broadcast: Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 9:10 PM on France 2
Drama | Duration: 1h33
Directed by Guillaume Nicloux | Featuring Fabrice Luchini, Mara Taquin, Maud Wyler
Original title: La Petite
Countries: France, Belgium
By embracing simplicity and empathy, La Petite offers a heartfelt reflection on legacy and the chance to rebuild after loss. The film favors silence, subtle gestures, and meaningful glances to gently guide a character on their journey toward serenity.
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