North American Premiere
In a residential shelter in Liège, several teenage mothers face consider what lies ahead: Julie (Elsa Houben), who is battling substance addiction, aspires to move in with her boyfriend; Ariane (Janaina Halloy Fokan), eager to avoid repeating her mother’s missteps, is determined to find an affluent foster home for her baby; Naima (Samia Hilmi) prepares to leave the facility, offering hope that other girls can write new chapters for themselves.
Now in the fifth decade of their shared career, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have finally helmed their first ensemble drama. And while not a deep focus character study like The Child or The Kid with a Bike (both selected as VIFF galas), Young Mothers still evinces all the hallmarks of their immersive, empathetic approach to social realist cinema. Given the increasingly callous times we find ourselves in, Young Mothers leaves one grateful for the Dardennes’ commitment to honouring those whom society can often overlook.
Best Screenplay, Cannes 2025; Oscar Submission: Belgium
Supported by
Babette Verbeek, Elsa Houben, Janaina Halloy Fokan, Lucie Laruelle, Samia Hilmi
Belgium/France
2025
In French with English subtitles
At Vancouver Playhouse
At Fifth Avenue
Book Tickets
Credits & Director
Producer
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Delphine Tomson, Denis Freyd
Screenwriter
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Cinematography
Benoit Dervaux
Editor
Marie-Hélène Dozo
Production Design
Igor Gabriel
Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Jean-Pierre Dardenne was born in Engis, Belgium, in April 1951, and Luc Dardenne in Awirs, Belgium, in March 1954. The brothers began their careers directing documentaries. In 1975, they founded the production company Dérives, which has since produced over eighty documentaries, including many of their own. In 1994, they established a second production company, Les Films du Fleuve, further supporting their work and that of other filmmakers.
Filmography: Lorna’s Silence (2008); The Kid with a Bike (2011); Two Days, One Night (2014); The Unknown Girl (2016); Young Ahmed (2019); Tori and Lokita (2022)
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