CANNES 2025 | "Love Letters" Is A Tender Portrait Of Motherhood And Connection
10/12 ForReel Score | 8.5/10
What does it take to be a mom? And how does motherhood function in non-traditional relationships? These questions are raised in the opening scenes of Love Letters, a film directed by French filmmaker Alice Douard. The story centers on one of the first married gay couples seeking to adopt a child, following the legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption in France in 2013, a reform announced by then Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault in parliament. Nadia and Céline must collect letters to endorse the adoption, but while Nadia is content as the one to birth the child, Céline struggles to find security in her part of this process.
Image courtesy of The PR Factory International Film Publicity
In seeking these letters, Céline has to confront her relationship with her mother, marked by distance and differences. Their reconnection becomes part of Céline’s search for answers and recognition. Love Letters explores the meaning, responsibility, and forms of motherhood while the film focuses on Céline’s psychological and emotional experience. Actress Ella Rumpf expresses the character’s state through gestures and expressions. Through her performance, we understand Céline. Her search for answers raises questions about identity, motherhood, and belonging. In her dialogues and interactions with other characters, she expresses concerns about becoming a mother and caring for a child. The character changes as the story progresses. The film presents themes, questions, and situations related to the role of society in providing space for members of the LGBTQ community. Her partner, played by Mona Chokri, contributes another perspective to the story.
Their journey for identity, recognition, and support is personal. A moment in a bar shows the couple dancing, expressing emotion and connection through movement. During the film, friends and family share their own experiences of motherhood, but Céline and Nadia must also rely on their own feelings. As the music plays, the actresses kiss while the cinematography and editing align with the rhythm, portraying a moment of mutual understanding. They show a shared commitment to care for their child. The next shot cuts to an image of a baby’s face, referencing the purpose behind their efforts.
In an interview, director Alice Douard noted that LGBTQ+ films are often centered on hardship or sadness. With Love Letters, she aimed to focus on joy and life. Her hope is that even someone who opposed same-sex marriage might watch the film and reconsider. “It’s not a film meant to reignite conflict,” she said. “On the contrary, I want reconciliation. The goal is to show the truth: that people love, and people doubt.”
People doubt, and people feel fear when facing a significant responsibility, such as motherhood. In the dance sequence, the story conveys a message about facing challenges with one’s partner. Understanding and support are necessary to confront difficulties together. We cannot rise above our problems without understanding and love, and Love Letters is excellent at conveying this sentiment.