Other People's Children

What does it mean to care for another person’s child? Rachel, a single 40-year-old middle school teacher (Virginie Efira, “Madeleine Collins”), must ask herself this question when she falls in love with Ali and especially his four-year-old daughter, in the latest from Rebecca Zlotowski (Cannes competitor “An Easy Girl”). —M.G.

Forty-something Rachel has built a beautiful life for herself. As a school teacher, Rachel is loved by her students, as well as by the many friends and family in her life. But as she approaches a certain age, Rachel finds herself contemplating the option of having children. What once was a hypothetical becomes an all consuming question after Rachel meets Ali, a charming divorced father who opens Rachel’s heart to the possibility of having a family. Not only is Rachel falling in love with Ali, but she also finds herself growing deeply attached to his daughter, four-year-old Leila, who in turn begins to see Rachel as a second mother. But navigating the complexities of her newfound family life turns out to be more difficult than Rachel had imagined, especially when Ali’s ex-wife is still a big part of his life. A deeply moving portrait of longing, love, and loss, OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN captures the layered experience of womanhood, with and without motherhood. —G.S.