TELLE MERE, TELLE FILLE/ LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER/BABY BUMP(S)
France, 2017, 94 minutes, Colour.
Juliette Binoche, Camille Cottin, Lambert Wilson, Catherine Jacob, Jean-Luc? Bideau, Michael Dichter.
Directed by Noemie Saglio.
Juliette Binoche has had a varied and interesting career, a wide range of different roles, working in English-language films as well as in her own French language. This is one of her lighter roles.
Her daughter, Avril, played by Camille Wanting, is very serious, works at a cheerful and laboratory (commission to make a scent for lavatories), supporting her thesis-writing husband. They are pregnant. Her mother, Mado, who lives with them, is carefree and irresponsible, divorced long since from her husband, Marc, an orchestra conductor (Lambert Wilson).
After the announcement of the pregnancy to the husband’s parents, Mado and Marc spend time together – leading to her pregnancy.
So, a comedy of conflicts, the daughter wanting the mother to have an abortion, the mother wanting the daughter to have an abortion. In fact, of course, neither have an abortion and there is a great affirmation of pregnancy, giving birth, the love for children.
There is a lot of comedy of circumstances, hiding the truth, revelations, but, finally a happy photo of mothers and fathers and children.
1. A family film with the light touch?
2. The title, expectations? Marriage, pregnancy? Age and pregnancy? Issues of abortion? Issues of bearing children? The joy in children?
3. The Paris settings, Avril and her work, perfumes? Louis and his thesis? Mado, carefree, irresponsible, living with her daughter, memories of her own reactions to her mother? Setting the scene?
4. At home, Avril and her seriousness, supporting Louis, supporting her mother, taking responsibility for her mother, the pregnancy, the dinner to announce it, Mado and Marc pretending? Louis’ parents? The aftermath, Marc and Mado together, reminiscences about their life, the separation, his music, travels, the audience seeing him with the orchestra, performance and rehearsal? The sexual encounter, the consequences?
5. Juliet Binoche and her comic turn as Mado? Out on the town, drinking, her appearance, her love of dancing, her career, carrying for her daughter? Living with her daughter, the shopping, forcing her to buy clothes? At home, memories of her marriage?
6. The turn, discussions with her friends, the gym, the doctor, pregnant? Avril at work, leaving, her reaction, wanting the abortion? The visit to the doctor, his vagueness – and his death and funeral? His son and the medical help? The discussion about the abortion, the pills? Mado and her reaction, the decision to have the baby?
7. Marc, the visits, Mado hiding from Avril? His paternity? The decision for secrets?
8. The progress of the pregnancies, scans, joy? Marc and Mado, her opting not to pretend? Announcing her pregnancy?
9. Avril, her co-worker, the bosses, the lavatory scent, the stink, her protesting, losing her job?
10. The discussions with her father, going out on the town, letting her hair down, the exhilaration, the effect of seeing her boss at home, the children and an ordinary life?
11. The births, the children – the final gathering of everyone, the happy ending and photo?
