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Better Days

Des Jours Meilleurs

Elsa Bennett/Hippolyte Dard | 2025 | 101 MINS
France | Subtitles
This thoughtful and moving French comedy drama was chosen as the Surprise Film for the 2025 Chichester International Film Festival, and out of the 81 votes, received 34 4-star votes, and 30 5-stars.

In Detail

The film sheds light on the often-taboo subject of female alcoholism in a light-hearted yet moving manner. Think of the brilliant 2020 film ‘Another Round’, focusing on women rather than men.

The film opens with Suzanne (Valérie Bonneton), a single mother who is stripped of custody of her three children because of her addiction. She is determined to get herself sober so joins a group in a women’s centre where we also find Alice (Sabrina Ouazani), who, because she is young believes she is just a party girl, not an alcoholic; Diane (Michèle Laroque), an actress at the end of her career with a drinking habit; and a host of others. Their social worker Denis (the brilliant Clovis Cornillac) takes them under his wing and comes up with a wild idea to get the women bonded and on the right track - a car rally in Morocco. Between battle, female solidarity and travel, this film will move you, make you laugh and leave you with a sense of hope.

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