Young Mothers (12A)

Gentle, clear eyed and deeply humane, the Dardenne brothers’ latest film returns them to the understated social realism that first made their name. Set in Liège, Belgium, it follows a group of teenage mothers and mothers to be living in a state run home where they learn to care for their babies or prepare them for adoption.

Perla (Lucie Laruelle) struggles with the distant father of her newborn. Jessica (Babette Verbeek) searches for her own mother after giving birth. Julia (Elsa Houben) tries to leave addiction behind with the support of her partner and baby. Ariane (Janaïna Halloy Fokan), just 15, wrestles with whether to give her child up, clashing with her own troubled mother.

The Dardennes capture these intersecting stories with an unforced intimacy, avoiding sentimentality while finding moments of humour, tenderness and grace. The young women’s vulnerabilities are never exploited, and each character is treated with quiet dignity. The result is a film that asks difficult questions about love, responsibility and sacrifice without pretending there are easy answers, holding onto the belief that care and connection can still shape a better future.