This is My Mother

La vie de ma mère

Pierre, a successful 33-year-old florist, has his life turned upside down by the sudden arrival of his mother Judith, whom he hasn’t seen for two years. Mercurial and extravagant, she suffers from bipolar disorder and has recently escaped from a clinic. Pierre has only one idea in mind: bring her back as quickly as possible so his life can get back on track. But nothing happens as he hoped for. 

Unfurling over a mere 24 hours, the film progresses at a blistering pace, with the two of them constantly on the move. The film gently conveys the heartbreak that comes with bipolar disorder and slowly works to rebuild its characters’ bonds and tease out their emotions all with great simplicity, without fear of making people laugh about a subject whose comical side can only be explored with great tact. This brilliant film takes a respectful approach to bringing a difficult subject into mainstream cinema. The Lead performances of Agnès Jaoui and William Lebghil are exceptional.

SPONSORED BY:
Ellen Hamer, Gerald Hamer
Sandy and Ian Penn

Festivals and Awards

• Winner: Audience Award, French Film Festival, Angoulême, France, 2023