Love Letters

Alice Douard’s debut feature Love Letters explores the challenges faced by a same-sex couple trying to formalize their parenthood. The film is set in France in 2014—when same-sex marriage was already legal but societal attitudes and institutional frameworks lagged behind.

Céline (Ella Rumpf) and Nadia (Monia Chokri) are expecting their first child together. Though the couple is married, Céline is not the biological mother and is therefore not automatically recognized as the child’s legal parent. She must convince both the authorities and those closest to her of her legitimacy as a parent.

Douard tackles societal tensions with a style reminiscent of the Dardenne brothers. The couple is constantly subjected to scrutiny, testing even their relationships with loved ones. Yet the film also beautifully depicts the anticipation of pregnancy and the quiet joys of daily life.

Premiered in the Critics’ Week section at the Cannes Film Festival, Love Letters affirms that the essence of parenthood lies in commitment above all else.

Espoo Ciné