De son vivant, a masterpiece

This intimate and emotionally devastating drama shows Bercot at his most mature and compassionate.

From the opening scenes, which portray the simple moments of everyday life with Benjamin, the film disarms with its naturalistic tone.

Catherine Deneuve and Benoît Magimel deliver deeply moving performances as mother and son facing loss together.

Their bond feels deeply authentic, full of nuances communicated through charged silences and tender exchanges.

When cancer strikes Benjamin, the trajectory shifts to focus on the physical and psychological effects of treatment.

Yet Bercot maintains empathy, never exploiting the suffering, but honouring the dignity of the experience.

Fournier's camera accompanies their transformations with tremendous delicacy, achieving sublime moments.

At the end of the film, a profound meditation on mortality, love and the fullness of life lingers long after the credits roll.

This kind of honest, intelligent filmmaking restores faith in the best of French cinema.

A must for lovers of humanist drama and soulful mise-en-scène.

With this little masterpiece, Bercot establishes herself as one of the great French auteurs.