“OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN” Emotionally Complex

Virginie Efira and Callie Ferreira-Goncalves in OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN from Music Box Films

Nicely acted and directed, the film Other People’s Children leaves a lasting feeling about companionship and the need for an offspring. The tale has been told many times, but not lately. This story has a few twists and a lot of heart so you will never get bored. The performance by Virginie Efira is worth the watch, especially for the ladies 21 and over.

It’s Paris France and we find Rachel (Virginie Efira) teaching her High School class at a private school. She is very dedicated to the students, almost motherly. But, she also does a lot in her free time since being divorced for the past eight years. One of her pastimes is getting guitar lessons and at one of the sessions she meets Ali (Roschdy Zem) a handsome man. Ali offers to take her home and on walk to the transport station asks her if she would like to stop first at a bar. Conversation about his being separated leads the two to his bedroom where they enjoy each other.

Virginie Efira and
Callie Ferreira-Goncalves in OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN from Music Box Films

Their next meeting opens up dialogue that he has a four-year-old daughter Liela (Callie Ferreira-Goncalves). Intrigued Rachel gets to meet her and gets deeply involved in her life. However, Director and Screenwriter Rebecca Zlotowski provides many hurtles, twists and drama that comes into play. I like the way she makes the film nicely complex, especially her development of Rachel who becomes the focus of what many women in the world have experienced in their lifetime.

The enactment by Virginie Efira of the vulnerable Rachel is spot on and the association with her predicaments comes through powerful and genuine. Topping her career she was nominated for Best Actress for France’s Lumiere for 5 films and winning top honors for Other People’s Children in this year’s Presentation. I recently reviewed the film Revoir Paris in which she won a Best Actress Ceasar award and again another of her films worth watching.

Virginie Efira and Roschdy Zem in OTHER PEOPL’S CHILDREN from Music Box Films

BONUS FEATURES Include:
”Interview featurette” with Virginie Efira, Roschdy Zem and director Rebecca Zlotowski
“TIFF Originals” Q&A with Virginie Efira and Rebecca Zlotowski
“Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots”

Other People’s Children has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains sex/nudity, nudity, smoking, drug use, and some language. The film is played out on the DVD and Blu-ray in French with English Subtitles. For those that like foreign language films, open a bottle of a nice wine and enjoy the show.

Additional Film Information:
Cast: Virginie Efira, Roschdy Zem, Chiara Mastroianni, Callie Ferreira-Goncalves, Yamée Couture, Henri-Noël Tabary, Victor Lefebvre, Sébastien Pouderoux
Directed and written by: Rebecca Zlotowski
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
MPAA Rating: Not rated sex/nudity, nudity, smoking, drug use, some language
Running Time: 1hr. 43 min.
Opening Date: August 8, 2023
Language: French with English Subtitles
Subtitles: English
Distributed by: Music Box Films
Released in: Blu-ray, DVD

Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com