Program
2025
House by the lake –
Grant

THE TIES THAT BIND US

©Alamode Film
©Alamode Film

Screening at Cinema by Velotel

Carine Tardieu’s deeply moving family drama tells the story of Sandra, a single woman who lives in a French town and runs a feminist bookshop. When the couple from the neighboring apartment, Alex and his partner Cécile, have to go to the hospital for the birth, the bookseller agrees to look after their six-year-old son Elliot, even though the woman in her mid-50s has little experience with children. However, complications arise during the birth and the mother dies.

In the following period, Sandra increasingly grows into the role of an important female caregiver, not only for the boy, but also for the widowed father and the newborn daughter, Lucille. Alex is friends with David, Elliot’s biological father. A deep bond develops between Sandra and the grieving bereaved, even though she has to balance where her boundaries lie. She becomes an important source of support for Elliot and Alex. “What Connects Us” is a life-affirming drama that gently addresses themes such as grief, loss, and bonding—absolutely worth watching!

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  • Credits

    Country: France/Belgium

    Year: 2025

    Length: 105 minutes

    Director: Èlodie Lélu

    Screenplay: Èlodie Lélu & Agnes de Sacy

    Cast: Valeria Bruni Tedschi, Pio Marmai, Elsa Huben

    Version: French with German subtitles