I’M GLAD MY MOTHER IS ALIVE/ Je suis hereux que ma mere soit vivante

France, 2012,
Vincent Rottiers, Sophie Cattani, Cristine
Directed by Claude Miller, Nathan Miller.

I’m Glad my Mother is Alive is quite a strong story focusing on an adopted son. Vincent Rottiers is persuasive as the older Thomas, adopted when he was five along with his brother, his young mother unable to look after them, lacking a sense of responsibility, thinking only of her self, her relationships. There are flashbacks to this time with Gabin Lefebvre as the young Thomas. However, the film opens with Thomas of 12, also played effectively by Maxime Renard.
The film shows a troubled boy, feeling his sense of abandonment by his birth mother, depending on his adoptive parents but not relating well to them. While his adoptive mother is concerned, his father has collapsed, goes to an institution and gradually loses his memory.
When Thomas leavesschool, he works in a garage, goes to officials to find out the address of his birth mother and confronts her. He becomes very attached to his half brother who is living with his mother. He visits the home more and more often, bringing gifts, a still sensing his abandonment from his birth mother.
There is a highly dramatic moment when there is a sudden eruption and he stabs his mother, trying to kill her. He is in shock as is the audience. There is some resolution in the final court scene, with an apology from the mother, Thomas uttering the sentence which is the title of the film, with a camera finally going up close to him and his staring into the lens.
The film is the work of celebrated French Director Claude Miller, one of his last films, and a collaboration with his son, Nathan Miller.

1. A film about family, French style, universal message? Issues of adoption, for the adoptive children, for their adopting parents, for the birth parents?
2. The French setting, the city, homes, garages, holidays at the beech, municipal offices, convalescent homes? Musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Thomas, seeing him at age 12, in the car, the parents, brother, the holiday at the beach, his swimming out, his father pursuing him, upset? His asking what his mother looked like? His memories? His anger and his searching for his birth mother? Francois not interested in her? The picture of the exasperated adoptive parents?
4. The father at the choir, the phone call, Thomas and the fight, the children teasing him about adoption, the principal and reprimanding Thomas?
5. The flashbacks, Julia, the men in her life, sexual relationships, pregnant at 17, going out, leaving Thomas to look after Patrick, the boys playing together, Thomas and his care, her return, the officials taking children away?
6. The institution, the adoptive parents come to see them, meeting, charmed, their being adopted, it Thomas feeling abandoned by Julia? Patrick becoming Francois and not caring about the past?
7. Julia, her work, disappearing from children?
8. The adoptive mother, going to work, the father, his collapse, in the institution, losing his memory?
9. The years passing, Thomas going to work, Francois and his girlfriends, the mother at home, the father in an institution?
10. Thomas, his character, his needs, working the guards, going to the official, wanting information, the official giving the address, his going to the house, the reaction to Julia, not staying, writing her the hate letter?
11. Julia situation, as a cleaner, the irregular hours, her husband leaving her, wanting custody of her son, the charm of the half-brother? Thomas with Fred?
12. Thomas, his return, kissing Julia, their talking, Julia’s limits in handling situations? Chantal, the neighbour, looking after Fred? Thomas bringing gifts, cooking, playing, picking up Fred from school like a father, cooking meals, making demands of Fred, the encounter with Julia’s husband and the clash?
13. At home, pretending to have a girlfriend, talking to his mother, her questions? His anger at the situation, driving the car, outburst, fired?
14. Going to the beach, saying he had interviews, staying in Julia’s house? Going to the hospital, criticism of her? The flowers?
15. At home, the sudden eruption, stabbing Julia, the phone call and admitting his guilt, covering her body?
16. Julia and Anne meeting, the hostility between the two, talking, Anne teeling Julia the truth?
17. The court, Julia’s statement in court, asking Thomas’s forgiveness? The other members of the family in court?
18. The focus on Thomas, saying he was glad his mother was alive, his eyes straight to camera leaving the audience to their emotional responses and reflections?