Pupille

It's been a long time since I have seen a new film that moved me like this one. I saw it as part of a virtual film festival. The cast and chemistry is wonderful but the infant steals every scene. One of those films that will undoubtedly stay with you forever.

There is no need to talk about spoilers, this movie ... this story is beautiful. It is not just a story, it's about a path to anyone desiring to adopt a child. Moreover, this movie treats the adoption of a ward (pupille) from the beginning and I think it could help many mothers who don't want to keep their child.

The actors carry the movie beyond the initial purpose because it's not a documentary, it's the life of many people all along this adoption. I have to point out the filmmaking ... I was truly engrossed until the end. Every scene is realistic but I will say no more here, enjoy =)

Théo, a baby born anonymously, is given up for adoption the day of his birth. The biological mother has two months to reconsider her decision... or not. In the meantime, the child welfare and adoption services are working hard. The first to take care of the newborn, the second to find an adoptive mother. Her name is Alice, she is 41 years old and she has been fighting for ten years to have a child.

Baby, anonymous delivery, adoption, one fears the syrupy soap or the two-bit photo novel. Don't worry, it's not! On the contrary, Jeanne Herry's (Miou-Miou's daughter) attentive pen and camera know how to find the right measure and the perfect angle of attack at every moment. As interesting as it is moving, the film harmoniously mixes the pedagogy of a documentary with the great emotions of a successful fiction. On the information side, we are put at the heart of the teams that work around the infant (caregivers, specialized educators, adoption officers). On the emotional side, we follow the long and painful journey of Théo's candidate for adoption (sensitive Élodie Bouchez). All of the actors in the film are to be commended for their ability to capture both the strengths and weaknesses of their characters. However, are particularly to be praised Sandrine Kiberlain as an empathetic social worker, Olivia Côte as the firm but understanding head of the adoption service as well as the most endearing of them all - divine surprise-, macho Gilles Lellouche as the baby's tender provisional father. A luminous work, which does honor to French cinema.

I would have never thought my story could one day be made into a film! I came across it by chance and got stuck till the last minute. I literally relived my own story as an adoptant mum in France : the heavy system, the waiting, the hopes and fails.

Everything in the storyboard reminded me of what we went through.

The actors, and most particularly Elodie Bouchez, manage to convey the despair and feelings I felt through the adoption process. Adoption is a battle worth fighting for which is well described in this sensitive film.

My child is fifteen today and when the right time comes, we must watch this film together.

Théo is a sweet little newborn boy. His young biological mother doesn´t want to keep him. Therefore, the adoption process begins. Théo meets quite many new people who cares for and helps him.

We also meet Alice in this movie. She is a woman with a kind, warm and caring personality. She has applied to become an adoptive parent for a couple of years.

"In Safe Hands" is an intimate story in my opinion. It drew me in quickly. I really wanted things to work out for little Théo. He honestly deserves the very best. I think that the people in the adoption process treated him and his biological mother with kindness, respect and calmness.

I only missed two things in this movie. I wanted to know much more about Théo´s biological mother. And some things were quite unclear when it comes to Karine´s love life. But I can absolutely recommend "In Safe Hands"! I don´t regret watching this movie. I think that it deserves a larger audience.