The Bélier Family

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Jordy M La famille Bélier (2014) is a tender, funny, and quietly profound portrait of a hearing daughter growing up in a deaf family—where love is loud even when life is silent. From the outset, the film convinces with the authenticity of its domestic rhythms: the playful bond with her father, the fierce affection of her mother, and the sibling indifference that feels achingly real. Sound design becomes a character in its own right, heightening the everyday noises Paula hears as the only hearing member of her household, a reminder of the invisible labor she carries. A classroom of adulthood arrives early for Paula: she’s often the bridge between her family and the outside world, which produces moments both comic and uncomfortable and explains the fatigue others misread as apathy. The film is sharp about institutional blind spots, showing how responsibility can be mistaken for disengagement. Louane Emera’s Paula is exemplary without ever feeling sanctified. Her friendship with Mathilde (Roxane Duran) adds buoyancy and warmth, even as extroversion and shyness occasionally clash. If Paula’s parents—Gigi (Karin Viard) and Rodolphe (François Damiens)—sometimes act impulsively, the story never loses sight of their fear: the possibility of losing their daughter to a world they cannot fully access. The school choir thread invites questions at first, but it pays off emotionally as the film explores perspective—what is heard, what is felt, and what must be translated. A small, wordless exchange between Paula and her father becomes a masterstroke of empathy, love communicated beyond sound. A political subplot adds texture and pressure, underlining how opportunity and obligation often collide. The film refuses melodrama, stacking small frustrations until they matter, and then finding catharsis without sensationalism. Credit is due to the writing lineage that shaped this story: from Victoria Bedos’s original concept and script, through Stanislas Carré de Malberg’s optimization, to Éric Lartigau’s direction with Thomas Bidegain’s collaboration. Evgueni and Sacha Galperine’s score supports the film with restraint, reminding us how far a story can go when its heart is in the right place. Emera, Damiens, Viard, and Elmosnino deliver lived-in performances, and Emera’s musical presence lingers long after. La famille Bélier is, ultimately, a family film in the best sense: generous, emotionally grounded, and attuned to the ways love demands translation. It’s not flawless in its plotting, but its emotional truth is undeniable. Verdict: 8/10—a moving, beautifully humane story worth sharing with the whole family. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/27/25 Full Review Flobine Film très touchant qui a réussi à me faire verser une larme. La fierté du père envers sa fille, vers la fin du film, est selon moi ce qu'il y a de plus touchant. La bande sonore est parfaite: Michel Sardou et son répertoire collent parfaitement à cette oeuvre. Louane est excellente dans le rôle d'une jeune femme vivant une période cruciale de sa vie tout en essayant de combler les besoins de tous ceux qui l'entourent. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/22/23 Full Review Audience Member We have all seen movies with and about handicapped people, especially blind ones, from comedies to thrillers and suspense flicks. We have seen people in wheelchairs solving crimes as well as being harassed and socially excluded just like all other groups of people suffering of one or the other problem. I personally have never been so strongly being impacted to the point of crying like a little baby by a movie about handicapped, in this case a deaf family with one daughter who can hear normally. The scene during the kids presentation in school (I don't want to go into details not to spoil it) is especially heartwarming and an absolute masterpiece by the director. I think everybody should watch this movie, especially to feel a bit more compassion to all those people who are not rarely enough being pushed aside by society. It might teach us all more humility and understanding!!! Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Green G Incomprehensibly dreadful. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/28/21 Full Review Audience Member Esse filme é lindo! Sensível e singelo... Uma obra prima Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member I really enjoyed this heart-warming film. Louane Emera is fabulous. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Bélier Family

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