Father of My Children 2010

Grégoire Canvel is a struggling French film producer who owns his own film company but is trapped under a mountain of debt. Despite his luxurious lifestyle—which includes a grand country home, a chic apartment in Paris, and a bustling film company—he finds himself sinking deeper into financial trouble. Despite the rising costs associated with his ongoing projects, Grégoire continues to accept more work. The grim reality hits hard when he discovers he is 4 million euros in debt, with his catalogue of films, already mortgaged, valued at less than a million euros. With the bank unwilling to extend any further credit, he resorts to a desperate act: a dramatic encounter where he burns his bills and ultimately takes his own life on the streets.

In the aftermath of Grégoire’s tragic death, his wife, Sylvia, is determined to preserve her husband’s legacy by trying to finish the films currently in production. Unfortunately, her efforts are met with failure, leading her to the heart-wrenching decision to liquidate the company.

In a poignant turn of events, their eldest daughter, Clémence, while waiting for her mother outside the production office, overhears whispers about her father’s secret life and learns that he had another son, from whom he was estranged. As Sylvia is in Sweden seeking funds for one of Grégoire’s final projects, Clémence embarks on her own quest for truth. She delves into her father’s papers and uncovers the existence of her half-brother, Moune, to whom Grégoire had been sending money. Although she meets Moune’s mother, Isabelle, the fateful encounter with Moune himself remains just out of reach.

On the day of the company’s dissolution, Sylvia and her three daughters make a bittersweet visit to Grégoire’s office for one last farewell. As they prepare to leave Paris behind, Clémence longs to visit her father’s grave to say a final goodbye. However, Sylvia insists that there isn’t enough time. As the car navigates through the city, Clémence’s tears flow freely in the backseat, symbolizing the weight of grief and the unfulfilled longing for a connection with her father.