Le Lait de la tendresse humaine (2001)
Directed by Dominique Cabrera

Film Review

In this dark comedy-drama, writer-director Dominique Cabrera tackles a subject that is rarely dealt with in cinema, post-natal depression, and shows us how harrowing this fairly common condition can be, not just for mothers who have recently given birth, but for their immediate entourage. Cabera cut her directing teeth by making a series of documentaries in the 1980s and early 1990s, and she brings a similar sur-le-vif quality of realism to her film. Hers is a distinctive style of cinéma vérité which involves some abrupt editing and skilful use of the hand-held camera to draw us into her protagonists' confused and uncertain world. Whilst Le Lait de la tendresse humaine effectively conveys the trauma of baby blues it is somewhat less rewarding as piece of drama than some of Cabrera's previous films, such as her arresting immigration-themed drama L'Autre côté de la mer (1997). The acting is also a little patchy, the strong central performances from Patrick Bruel (rarely better than he is here) and Maryline Canto not being matched by the contributions from the supporting cast. Bizarrely, the latter includes several big name French actors (Olivier Gourmet, Sergi López, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, to name just three) in a somewhat gratuitous array of cameo appearances which undermines the film's credibility somewhat.

Film Synopsis

Not long after giving birth, Christelle walks out of the family home and after wandering about blindly persuades a neighbour she has never spoken to before to take her in.  The neighbour, Claire, is naturally concerned by this unexpected intrusion but she hasn't the heart to send the visibly distraught woman away.  Instead, she allows Christelle to stay with her until she feels well enough to return home.  Her boyfriend Serge isn't quite so sympathetic and makes it clear that he wants the seemingly unhinged stranger out of his home.  Meanwhile, Christelle's husband Laurent is going out of his mind.  Barely able to cope with the baby and his other two children, he tries in vain to find his wife, but no one knows where she is.  It seems that Laurent will have to wait until Christelle is ready to return to him...