Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne: "This time, we wanted our heroines to make it through"

Published on May 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

“Young Mothers,” the intertwined destinies of five young girls catapulted prematurely into the throes of motherhood. CHRISTINE PLENUS/DIAPHANA

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Interview Presented in the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival before its theatrical release, "Jeunes Mères," their new film, redefines the style of Belgian filmmakers, displaying a touch of optimism bordering on the feel-good movie.

The Dardenne brothers have produced a unique film, brighter and more diverse than their previous works, freed for once from the terrible deadlines that transform each of their social chronicles into a diabolical countdown. The intertwined destinies of five young girls prematurely catapulted into the throes of motherhood, "Young Mothers" recounts the weight of parental priesthood, its almost animal mystery, and its extra anguish and emotion when it is coupled with social misery, the breeding ground to which these Cannes super-authors – eleventh selection in a row and two Palmes d'Or – nevertheless remain faithful.

Revolution

Luc Dardenne "We had never written a script for an ensemble film, which led to a lot of hesitation and trial and error. We even backtracked at one point. But we really wanted something else. Fortunately, we kept clinging to the memory of a Mizoguchi classic, "Street of Shame," which Jean-Pierre and I love. Prostitution in this film is obviously not the same subject as that…

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