Event

Foreign Film: IN SAFE HANDS

Abandoned at birth, baby Theos uncertain future lies in the hands of the Child Welfare Services. Jean, who is no stranger to the foster system, is given the responsibility of temporarily looking after Theo, while the members of the Adoption Agency have the difficult task of finding him a home. Meanwhile Alice, unable to have children of her own, has never stopped fighting to be a mother. After facing many setbacks, Alice is finally ready to welcome a child, just when the Adoption Service is seeking a home for Theo. Thanks to the dedicated members of social services, the paths of Alice and Theo will cross, blending the journey of Jean and the rest of the team along the way.

The second feature film from actress-turned-filmmaker Jeanne Herry (Number 1 Fan), In Safe Hands throws us deep into the milieu of the French social assistance services where the fate of one baby boy exposes the conflicting conundrums faced by many women those giving up their babies and those desperate to have their own.

When baby Theos birth mother surrenders him to adoption, child protection services, and officers such as Karine (Sandrine Kiberlain, Number 1 Fan), are called to action, and the harsh realities of the adoption process are pulled into sharp focus.

Karine entrusts Theo to Jean (Gilles Lellouche, Cest la vie!) no stranger to the foster system himself who takes on the responsibility of the newborn until a suitable home can be found. Meanwhile, Alice (Élodie Bouchez) has never given up the fight to be a mother and faces the prospect of this dream finally coming true, although nothing is certain.

A particularly accurate puzzle that comes together very harmoniously (Cineuropa), In Safe Hands relies on the impeccable performances of its cast, subtle cinematography and score, and finely tuned writing from Jeanne Herry to create a story that is at once informative and affecting.