Loosely based on the real life suicide of the late film producer Humbert Balsan, renowned for his backing of Arabian and women cinema, dissects events leading up to the ill-fated death and then presents the personal fallout left in its wake. Appropriately filmed by a woman, director Mia Hansen-Løve stresses the differences by changing the name of the producer to Grégoire Canvel (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing),in part to avoid confusion about the dramatisation, in part out of pure respect.

The story places a visible distinction between the before and after, where the key focus is placed on how his wife Sylvia (Chiara Caselli) and three daughters Clemence (Alice de Lencquesaing),Billie (Manelle Driss) and Valentine (Alice Gautier) cope in the aftermath of the suicide caused by financial distress.

Fittingly cinephile "Father of my Children" is a slow-paced family drama with a lingering focus on emotions. Life however, unlike in most movies fret with happy endings, just goes on. Attempts to tie up the past are only partially successful, when Sylvia embarks on a mission to finish her husband's legacy by completing unfinished productions only to face harsh realities, that certain things will be forcibly left buried with Grégoire and liquidation is inevitable. A Hollywood closure is unachievable, simply as unrealistic as rescuing a sinking ship. Even family matters are left open-ended, as the daughters struggle to understand how their father could have compulsively done away with himself to ultimately disregard the family that supported him throughout and where a great affection between members is evident. In the end each of them cope on their own, more owed to time passing by, than some profound realisation.

Essentially a good movie made in true French style, albeit a low-key affair, which lingers emotionally, but doesn't do much in the way of awakening deeper reaction, despite all-round good performances. The run-length fizzles through gaining some dramatical foothold, but maybe not sufficient given the grave subject matter. Bleak engagement bereft of pull substantially drives down the quality of the experience, as the realism of grieving seems to ask for a more standardised movie language with a distinct culmination.

'The Father Of My Children' tells the story of the family of a film producer who comes under financial stress. Plot-wise, the film surprises when the expected ending occurs half-way through; we thus get to also see the aftermath. There's nothing wrong with this per se, although it means we really have two stories in one, and the overall narrative arc is thus slightly broken. But I don't think this is the only reason this film seems strangely devoid of dramatic tension. Even though there are some fairly notable developments, nothing really seems to upset the serenity of its affluent characters. At one point, there's a power cut and the lights go off; after a few minutes, they come back on again, and in some ways, that's how the whole film feels: stuff happens, but the consequences always seem not to actually matter that much. I normally like understated films; but this one, although nicely put together, feels underplayed, and therefore, just a little uninteresting.

Yes, this space is dedicated to the sale of a movie poster for the magnificent film 'Le père de mes enfants' (THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN) but likely the film spot will surface very soon: this is on of those foreign films that enters quietly, gently urging audiences to notice how fine the product is. So despite the fact that the film is currently in theaters and will soon be released on DVD, this serves as a wake-up notice to film lovers everywhere.

Young Writer/Director Mia Hansen-Løve has created a story loosely based on a real situation that manages to examine the central aspect of family love: 'the defeat of death, the victory of life'. Grégoire Canvel (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) is a producer in the film industry, an auteur who is devoted to quality films. As a producer he has several films in varying stages of production (including one in Sweden directed by a difficult genius who has little respect for cost containment) and the financial aspects of his Moon Films is in rocky terrain, despite being surrounded by a staff devoted to his vision and going without pay because of their commitment. At the same time Grégoire is a devoted husband to his wise wife Sylvia (Chiara Caselli) and to his three daughters - the oldest being the sensitive Clémence (a stunning portrayal by young Alice de Lencquesaing),Valentine (Alice Gautier) and Billie (Manelle Driss) - taking country walks with them and being wholly involved with their family activities, despite the fact that he is constantly on the cellphone managing the tragedies that abound at work. It is apparent that everyone who comes into contact with Grégoire feels the special gifts he has - except for the lawyer and creditors he tries to avoid. The financial sinkhole opens and Grégoire, in despair, commits suicide. The story actually begins here, as the point of the film is how each of the people who came under Grégoire's influence - co-workers, wife and children, and friends - responds to the loss of this man. There is not the usual breast-beating grieving, but rather a quiet study of how each of these people is affected by and reacts to the passing of a solitary genius by suicide. The film is definitely one that is life affirming rather than an extended eulogy!

The entire cast is excellent, with special kudos to the children as well as to Eric Elmosnino who plays a rock bound friend to the family and the director's brother Igor Hansen-Løve whose small part as a hopeful writer is richly detailed. This may be too early a time to judge the talent of Mia Hansen-Løve, but if she is able to maintain the quality she achieves in THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN, she has an exciting future in cinema. Highly recommended.

Grady Harp