Elsa Blayau 's funny and tender groupcomedy Avec ou sans enfants? explores the widening gap between friends when parenthood comes into play. Through Pio (Syrus Shahidi) and Anaïs (Adèle Galloy), a couple about to get married, the film asks a universal question: can we still share the same moments when some have children and others don't?
When they organize their wedding with one clear instruction - no children - their friends, now parents, find themselves faced with a dilemma. Between absurd strategies to hide their offspring and sincere confrontations about the changes imposed by family life, the event quickly takes an unexpected turn, where chaos and laughter mingle with deeper reflections on friendship and the evolution of relationships.
Avec ou sans enfants? will be released in France on February 19, 2025.
Synopsis: When Pio and Anaïs announce their wedding to their friends, it's clear: it's going to be childless. Three days of partying and Prosecco ahead! But when their gang of friends turns up WITH the kids, thinking they can hide them from the bride and groom, disaster strikes (very) quickly...
One of the film's great strengths lies in its well-balanced cast, supported by a group of actors who display genuine on-screen chemistry. Syrus Shahidi and Adèle Galloy naturally embody this childless couple trying to preserve their ties with their circle of friends. Syrus Shahidi brings a mixture of lightness and contained frustration, while Adèle Galloy breathes a touching, sincere energy into Anaïs, torn between nostalgia and the desire to preserve her relationship.
They are joined by Bertrand Usclat (Benjamin), Rayane Bensetti (Manu), Tiphaine Daviot (Blanche), Joséphine Draï (Sara), Julien Pestel (Swann) and Nadia Roz (Julia), forming an engaging band in which each plays a well-defined role. Bertrand Usclat and Rayane Bensetti provide effective, spontaneous humor, while Tiphaine Daviot and Joséphine Draï play friends torn between their responsibilities as parents and their desire to have fun as before. Nadia Roz, as Julia, stands out for her sense of comic timing, bringing a touch of biting irony to the exchanges. Finally, Julien Pestel plays a disillusioned but endearing Swann, rounding out the group with a fine diversity of temperaments.
While the poster and pitch might suggest a cliché-filled comedy, Avec ou sans enfants? turns out to be finer and more nuanced than expected. Admittedly, the film doesn't shy away from a few heavy-handed jokes and occasional over-the-top humor, but it strikes a balance between laughter and emotion, highlighting the mutual misunderstandings and frustrations that can arise between those with children and those without. Elsa Blayau manages to avoid the trap of Manicheism: the parents are not reduced to outdated, noisy adults, and the childless are not selfish or immature. Everyone does their best, within their own constraints, and the film skilfully plays on these contrasts to create situations that are both hilarious and touching.
The fluid, dynamic staging emphasizes group interaction, with natural dialogue and well-choreographed group scenes. The warm photography, supported by a summery color palette, reinforces the festive mood of the wedding, while the rhythmic, upbeat soundtrack perfectly accompanies the build-up of tension and emotional moments.
While Avec ou sans enfants? doesn't avoid a few storytelling tricks and remains a fairly conventional comedy, it succeeds in its aim: to offer intelligent, accessible entertainment that everyone can relate to, whether you're an overworked parent or nostalgic for uninterrupted evenings with friends. It's the perfect way to unwind while smiling at all-too-familiar situations!
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