Redefining Family, One Signature at a Time

Read Time:5 Minute, 30 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Lover Letters (Des preuves d'amour)
–

Genre: Comedy, Drama
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 36m
Director(s): Alice Douard
Writer(s): Alice Douard, Laurette Polmanss
Cast: Ella Rumpf, Monia Chokri, Noémie Lvovsky, Félix Kysyl, Anne Le Ny, Julien Gaspar-Oliveri, Édouard Sulpice, Eva Huault
Where to Watch: shown at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival

RAVING REVIEW: When a story finds clarity in the complicated and weight in the quiet moments rather than the explosive ones, it earns its place by how closely it listens to its characters. That’s the approach taken here—patient, careful, and layered with unspoken tension. The film explores the space between legality and love. It doesn’t ask the audience to lean in—it trusts they already are.

Set in 2014 France, the film uses a shifting political moment as a backdrop, but the focus is on one woman’s journey through legal red tape and emotional uncertainty. Céline, preparing to become a mother without being the one carrying the child, faces a system that demands proof of her capacity to love and care. Her partner Nadia is pregnant, and Céline must adopt their child post-birth—a requirement that throws her into a deeply personal vetting process. The story isn’t concerned with whether she will succeed; it’s more interested in what that process reveals about how society evaluates parenthood.

In the lead role, Ella Rumpf offers a performance built on restraint and internal conflict. Instead of leaning into big, dramatic moments, she carries the film with an energy that’s always just below the surface. Her portrayal of Céline is constantly in motion, emotionally and physically, rarely pausing long enough to unpack her frustration. But the urgency is there. Each conversation she has and the testimony she collects become a mirror that reflects who she is and who others expect her to be.

The film thrives when it invites others into Céline’s story—friends, strangers, and especially her family. These interactions serve a dual function. They deepen our understanding of her world while offering a cross-section of society’s assumptions about motherhood. These aren’t speeches or symbolic characters—they’re complex individuals with histories and biases, brought in not just to react to Céline, but to challenge and expand the viewer’s understanding of the story’s emotional and social terrain.

One of the strongest threads throughout the film is the strained but layered relationship between Céline and her mother, Marguerite. A celebrated pianist who once chose career over childrearing, Marguerite represents a version of womanhood and motherhood that doesn’t easily fit into conventional categories. Their dynamic isn’t one of open conflict but of careful negotiation. They connect more easily through their shared passion for music than through emotional vulnerability, and the tension between them says as much as any argument could.

Despite the subject matter's heaviness, the film doesn’t wallow in it. It allows space for joy, humor, and tenderness. The scenes between Céline and Nadia feel lived-in and intimate, not staged. Their chemistry is believable not because it’s flashy but because it feels unforced. These moments of connection are treated with as much care as the conflicts—they ground the story and keep it from veering into the overly somber.

There’s a case to be made that the film sometimes pulls back too much. Céline’s arc, while evident, isn’t always as sharp or transformative as it could be. Her journey could benefit from a slightly clearer trajectory—more defined moments that signal her evolving emotionally in response to the people around her. That doesn’t mean louder moments or bigger declarations, but rather more insight into how her understanding of herself shifts over time. The ambiguity works thematically, but more focus might have added depth.

The film does incredibly well, keeping its emotional authenticity intact. It doesn’t try to speak for everyone. It’s not a general statement about LGBTQIA2S+ parenting or the politics of recognition—it’s about one person navigating a process that challenges her at every level. That specificity is what makes it feel honest. There’s no effort to tidy or wrap this story up with easy answers. Instead, the film lives in the complexity and lets that be enough.

While the political and legal context is essential, it’s treated as a backdrop, not a headline. This isn’t advocacy disguised as art—it’s a character-driven story that lets its politics emerge through personal stakes. By trusting the audience to understand the implications without spelling them out, the film preserves its narrative integrity and avoids becoming didactic.

Ultimately, the film understands that love doesn’t always come with clear guidelines or legal shorthand. It’s felt in the quiet moments, the effort to be present even when not recognized, and the determination to build something despite the odds. It may not ask for applause, but it deserves attention because it treats its characters and audience like they can see beyond the obvious.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching for 'Overly Honest Reviews'.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please don't hesitate to say hello or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of PULSAR CONTENT, APSARA FILMS, LES FILMS DE JUNE, TANDEM]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive complimentary items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl Records, Books, and more. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.