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No consensus yet.
All Critics (13) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (1)
Sophie Cattani as Julie takes us with her over several borders, and Vincent Rottiers as the latter-day Thomas is complete in his inchoate anger at fate. Jun 19, 2013 | Full Review…
Sophie Cattani as Julie takes us with her over several borders, and Vincent Rottiers as the latter-day Thomas is complete in his inchoate anger at fate.
Stanley Kauffmann
The narrative easily goes back and forth in time; despite its Oedipal subtext, it avoids exploitation. Stellar performances by Rottiers and Cattani help keep the movie on track. Sep 2, 2011 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
The narrative easily goes back and forth in time; despite its Oedipal subtext, it avoids exploitation. Stellar performances by Rottiers and Cattani help keep the movie on track.
V.A. Musetto
Miller gets points for using a bit of narrative sketchiness to good effect... Sep 2, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Miller gets points for using a bit of narrative sketchiness to good effect...
Joe Dziemianowicz
One of the film's strengths is its detached, even-handed view of someone whose turbulence and fits of rage are ultimately inexplicable, as is often the case in real life. Sep 1, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
One of the film's strengths is its detached, even-handed view of someone whose turbulence and fits of rage are ultimately inexplicable, as is often the case in real life.
Stephen Holden
Rottiers is excellent at embodying someone who projects vulnerability most when he's attempting strength, and who continually, heartbreakingly searches his mother for signs of attachment or regrets that fail to surface. Sep 1, 2011 | Rating: B
Rottiers is excellent at embodying someone who projects vulnerability most when he's attempting strength, and who continually, heartbreakingly searches his mother for signs of attachment or regrets that fail to surface.
Alison Willmore
Focuses, unsurprisingly, on family ties, although the kind you'll find here are more likely to choke than comfort. Aug 31, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Focuses, unsurprisingly, on family ties, although the kind you'll find here are more likely to choke than comfort.
Sam Adams
Titillating, thought-provoking, confidently made, involving and well-written and paced all accurately describe this wonderful film. Nov 11, 2013 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…
Titillating, thought-provoking, confidently made, involving and well-written and paced all accurately describe this wonderful film.
Blake Griffin
Titillating, thought-provoking, confidently made, involving and well-written and paced all accurately describe this wonderful film. Apr 21, 2013 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…
Alan Diment
A stirring French familial drama of simmering resentment, anchored by a searing performance from young Vincent Rottiers. Oct 2, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
A stirring French familial drama of simmering resentment, anchored by a searing performance from young Vincent Rottiers.
Brent Simon
Wrenching stuff, the kind of unrequited love story that, unfortunately, remains all too common in the real world. Sep 6, 2011 | Full Review…
Wrenching stuff, the kind of unrequited love story that, unfortunately, remains all too common in the real world.
Marshall Fine
A smoothly fractured history of a broken mother-son relationship, which even in its climactic tragedy keeps messy emotions at arm's length. Aug 29, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
A smoothly fractured history of a broken mother-son relationship, which even in its climactic tragedy keeps messy emotions at arm's length.
Bill Weber
[Claude] Miller is a master of oh-my-God moments that at first seem to come out of nowhere but have been carefully calibrated ..., and here there are plenty. Jul 11, 2010 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
[Claude] Miller is a master of oh-my-God moments that at first seem to come out of nowhere but have been carefully calibrated ..., and here there are plenty.
Kent Turner
Based on a true story, "I'm Glad My Mother Is Alive" is an unsettling character study about Thomas(Vincent Rottiers) who we first meet as a young adult. He is recalling past memories, first as far back as he can at the age of 5 to the only memories he has of his birth mother, Julie(Sophie Cattani), who when confronted by social services, gives up him and his younger brother Patrick to a caring couple, Annie(Christine Citti) and Yves(Yves Verhoeven), who cannot have children of their own. By the age of 12(Maxime Renard), Thomas is starting to ask questions about his birth mother, especially after an exhausting swim with his father.(The moral of the story is to never try and keep up with the youngsters.) He is also getting into fights at school and is about to be sentenced to boarding school. A lot of that comes from his being conflicted with the love he has for his birth mother versus the possible reality of who Julie really is which frightens him. Some might say this adds up to a variation on the whore/madonna complex but it is not really that simple since she was still a teenager when she had Thomas and is still trying to figure things out. On the other hand, Patrick, now known as Francois, does not recall Julie at all and adjusts easier. In the end, there are no easy answers and no easy way of assigning blame.
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