FFFA: Once Upon My Mother

Synopsis

Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan

Based on the bestselling autobiography by Roland Perez, this exuberant and heartrending film pays tribute to a love like no other – a mother’s love for her child.

In 1963, Roland is born to Esther, her sixth child in their close-knit Jewish immigrant family living in the Parisian suburbs. When Esther learns that Roland has been born with a club foot, she vows to ensure her son lives not just a normal life, but a fabulous one. She enlists the help of a determined specialist and the pop songs of Sylvie Vartan (who makes a cameo in the film) to help Roland defy all expectations and learn to walk.

This joyful crowd-pleaser features a powerhouse performance from Leïla Bekhti as the fiercely devoted Esther. ONCE UPON MY MOTHER absolutely smashed the French box office with over 1.5 million admissions, so is sure to be popular at this year’s Festival.