Once Upon My Mother
6.9
In 1963, Esther gives birth to Roland, the youngest of a large family. Roland is born with a club foot that prevents him from standing. Against everyone's advice, she promises her son that he will walk like the others and that he will have a fabulous life. From then on, Esther will do everything in her power to keep this promise. Through decades of trials and miracles of life, this film is the story of a true, funny and moving story, that of an incredible destiny and the greatest love there is: that of a mother for her child.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
73 people
Leïla Bekhti
Esther Perez
Known for
All That Glitters
All Your Faces
Jonathan Cohen
Roland Perez (Adult)
Known for
Army of Thieves
Sentinelle
Joséphine Japy
Litzie Gozlan
Known for
Love at Second Sight
Breathe
Sylvie Vartan
Sylvie Vartan
Also in
The Black Angel
Mausolée pour une garce
Jeanne Balibar
Mrs. Fleury
Known for
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight
Les Misérables
Lionel Dray
Maklouf Perez
Known for
Things to Come
Paris Je T'aime
Anne Le Ny
Mrs. Vergepoche
Known for
The Intouchables
Stillwater
Milo Machado-Graner
Jacques Perez (12-17 years old)
Known for
Anatomy of a Fall
Mercato
Naïm Naji
Roland Perez (5-7 years old)
Also in
Fatherfucker
Iliana Belkhadra
Nicole Perez (15-20 years old)
Also in
LT-21
Bêtes de flic
Naël Rabia
Edmond Perez (14-19 years old)
Known for
Burn Out
Luc Sitbon
Harold (16-17 years old)
Known for
SKAM France
Ken Scott Director · Roland Perez Author Nicolas Errèra Composer
Worldwide gross $12M · United States release November 2, 2025 · Produced in France, Canada, United States
Box office
Worldwide gross
$12,377,729
Production
Egérie Productions
Production
Gaumont
Production
Christal Films
Production
Amazon MGM Studios
Production
France · Canada · United States
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
Australia · February 27, 2025
Premiere · Europa Film Festival
France · March 19, 2025
Theatrical
United States · November 2, 2025
Premiere · American French Film Festival
United States
January 14, 2026 · Premiere · 2026 Miami Jewish Film Festival
January 15, 2026 · Premiere · 2026 NY Jewish Film Festival
Australia
October 20, 2025 · Premiere · The Jewish International Film Festival
August 12, 2026 · Physical
Austria
January 1, 2026 · Theatrical
Brazil
November 27, 2025 · Premiere · Festival de Cinema Francês do Brasil
May 7, 2026 · Theatrical
Bulgaria
November 7, 2025 · Theatrical
Croatia
June 19, 2025 · Theatrical
Finland
April 17, 2025 · Theatrical
France
July 30, 2025 · Digital
July 30, 2025 · Physical
Germany
November 27, 2025 · Theatrical
April 2, 2026 · Digital
Greece
June 12, 2025 · Theatrical
Israel
November 13, 2025 · Theatrical
August 13, 2026 · Digital · Yes VOD + Hot VOD + Partner TV+ + Cellcom TV+
Italy
November 26, 2025 · Limited theatrical · Anteprima
December 4, 2025 · Theatrical
Luxembourg
March 13, 2025 · Premiere · Luxembourg City Film Festival
Poland
July 18, 2025 · Limited theatrical
Russia
June 5, 2025 · Theatrical
Spain
May 30, 2025 · Theatrical
Sweden
April 4, 2025 · Theatrical
Switzerland
March 19, 2025 · Theatrical · French
November 27, 2025 · Theatrical · German
Ukraine
May 8, 2025 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.