Life is full of love lost: missed opportunities, temporary connections, fleeting moments of clarity and purpose mixed in with the mess. Rebecca Zlotowski’s fifth film Other People’s Children uses this mess as a driving force to examine a short period in main character Rachel’s (Virginie Efira) Parisian life, as she explores a new relationship with Ali (Roschdy Zem), and his 4-year-old daughter Leila.

At the beginning of the film, Rachel’s life is not unhappy, but she is distracted, ready for change. The viewer sees her life through good previous relationships and friendships, her high school teaching job is stable and meaningful, but as she approaches her 40s, her romantic life is lacking. She finds this romance with Ali, and unsuspectingly quickly, familial love with his daughter from a previous marriage. As the three of them grow closer, the many threads from their lives intertwine. 

Beginning as an adaptation of a book focused on male impotence, and eventually taking on a woman-focused life of its own, Other People’s Children deftly weaves its many themes into an engrossing package. While relationships and their accompanying baggage are a main focus, the film also touches on one’s search for meaning in a potentially childless life, through Rachel’s struggles with her ever-present shadow of looming infertility. The script makes sure to reinforce the fact that one doesn’t ever need children or romantic relationships to be fulfilled, and in fact, some of the film’s most poignant moments are non-romantic. 

The film’s pace is a steady stream, relaxed but relentless. Rachel is happy to go with the stream’s flow until, inevitably, life gets in the way. Her age and previous relationship decisions are a hidden clock for the character as she makes her decisions and we uncover more of her motives. The film handles this feeling of time very well, down to the editing, pacing and transitions. Even the way that scenes change is an unconventional staggered, blurred fade from out-to-in, always different, reminding the viewer of a long blink or waking up from a nap to find that a long time has passed. Zlotowski also enjoys focusing on important small moments in-between Rachel’s big life events: snooping the halls of a date’s house, checking out your partner in the shower, looking at some nice horses.

Virginie Efira has the whole movie resting on her shoulders, and you can acutely feel Rachel’s turmoil from Efira’s performance. As she either makes difficult decisions slowly or jumps on a whim, we take the ride with her. Efira’s ability to show Rachel’s inner monologue with a glum pace, a cigarette, and a faraway look is spectacular, and a couple of shots just of her expression toward the end of the film are particularly moving. While not intentionally the focus, Roschdy Zem brought gravitas to some difficult scenes as Ali, and Victor Lefebvre’s Chalamet-esque portrayal of one of Rachel’s students was another highlight in the epilogue.

Other People’s Children is a strong recommendation, a sweet and heartfelt look at the relationships and connections you form and lose throughout life at a very enjoyable pace.

4 out of 5 stars

Other People’s Children is screening as part of the Lotterywest Perth International Film Festival from MON 23 – SUN 29 JAN 2023. Details here.