I'm Glad My Mother Is Alive (2009)
"Je suis heureux que ma mère soit vivante" (original title)

Given up for adoption as a toddler, troubled teenager Thomas becomes obsessed with tracking down his birth mother. After years of searching, Thomas finds her single, with a small child, ... See full summary »

Directors:

Claude Miller, Nathan Miller

Writers:

Emmanuel Carrère (story), Alain Le Henry (screenplay),

Stars:

Vincent Rottiers, Sophie Cattani, Christine Citti

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Rottiers	...	Thomas Jouvet (20 ans)
Sophie Cattani	...	Julie Martino
Christine Citti	...	Annie Jouvet
Yves Verhoeven	...	Yves Jouvet
Maxime Renard	...	Thomas (12 ans)
Olivier Guéritée	...	Patrick / François (17 ans)
Ludo Harley	...	Patrick / François (9 ans) (as Ludo Harlay)
Gabin Lefebvre	...	Tommy (4 ans)
Quentin Gonzalez	...	Frédéric
Chantal Banlier	...	Chantal Duronnet, la voisine
Thomas Momplot	...	Mathieu
Alberto Actis	...	Le ferrailleur
Dominique Hulin	...	Le taulier de l'Hôtel Lux
Samir Guesmi	...	L'employeur
Sabrina Ouazani	...	La caissière du cinéma

Storyline

Given up for adoption as a toddler, troubled teenager Thomas becomes obsessed with tracking down his birth mother. After years of searching, Thomas finds her single, with a small child, living in a nearby suburb and begins a relationship with her which slowly drives him to an act of madness.

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Plot Keywords:

toddler | birth mother | female nudity | abandoned by mother | abandoned child | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [fr]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 September 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

I'm Glad My Mother Is Alive

Filming Locations:

Rosny-sous-bois, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Box Office

Budget:

€4,255,932 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$3,118 (USA) (2 September 2011)

Gross:

$8,705 (USA) (18 November 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

F Comme Film, Orly Films, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Dark

This is based on a true story, and the screenwriters did not tidy up the tale. It meanders frustratingly. You keep waiting for some development. The story is quite confusing since it involves three similar-looking brothers (and possibly more) two sets of parents, a three sets of actor one for each brother at different ages. To add to the confusion, the story flits back and forth in time without clear time frame cues.

The children are endearing and convincing actors, but all the adults are rather unlikeable, rude, selfish people. The main mother is also infuriatingly irresponsible.

It plays with the Oedipal urges, complicated by the ambiguous web of who is who's biological parents.