First I have to admit I was, initially, reluctant to go and watch this movie, as I have not read the original book, and I feared the plot would be too sweet and sentimental. But at the end of the screening, I felt a real enthusiasm that I would like to share here :
This film takes place in France during the 60's, and tells the story of a single mother with 3 preteen girls. This mother is an Italian who long-studied and now works hard in a layer office, doing her best to succeed more than the typical migrant, and give a good life to her daughters.
During the mother's long days of work, the girls are going to the public school or spending the rest of their days at home, home-working or imagining what happened to their father and why he disappeared. All the girls know from this man is that, from time to time, he is coming to their house, knocking loudly on the door, shooting to their mother to open and talk to him. Is their father crazy? Did he leave, or did her mother threw him away? When looking at the old family photos, the couple was looking so happy... what happened?
You will have to go to the theater to learn about those 3 formidable girls, her mother, and the unknown man.
This film is lifted by its delicate image quality, and its subtle depiction of the complex relations in a family. Additionaly, the scenarist and director did a very fine job to describe how the Italian immigrants were perceived in France during the sixties.
But, most of all, I was really moved by the figure of this Italian mother, which is leaving a weak man she still loves, to make sure her daughters will have a better life.
Both young and adult actresses did a great job, while Jean-Pierre Martins perfectly characterized the overprotective yet loving godfather.
This film takes place in France during the 60's, and tells the story of a single mother with 3 preteen girls. This mother is an Italian who long-studied and now works hard in a layer office, doing her best to succeed more than the typical migrant, and give a good life to her daughters.
During the mother's long days of work, the girls are going to the public school or spending the rest of their days at home, home-working or imagining what happened to their father and why he disappeared. All the girls know from this man is that, from time to time, he is coming to their house, knocking loudly on the door, shooting to their mother to open and talk to him. Is their father crazy? Did he leave, or did her mother threw him away? When looking at the old family photos, the couple was looking so happy... what happened?
You will have to go to the theater to learn about those 3 formidable girls, her mother, and the unknown man.
This film is lifted by its delicate image quality, and its subtle depiction of the complex relations in a family. Additionaly, the scenarist and director did a very fine job to describe how the Italian immigrants were perceived in France during the sixties.
But, most of all, I was really moved by the figure of this Italian mother, which is leaving a weak man she still loves, to make sure her daughters will have a better life.
Both young and adult actresses did a great job, while Jean-Pierre Martins perfectly characterized the overprotective yet loving godfather.