The next day, 11 July, at 10 p.m., the Instituto Francés continues its summer cinema cycle by showing Nathan Ambrosioni’s film Toni and his family (Toni, en famille), an intimate portrait full of humanity and emotion.
The film stars Camille Cottin in one of the most moving roles of her career. The story revolves around Toni, a single mother of five children, who at age 43 begins to wonder what has become of her own dreams. Formerly a promising singer, Toni left her career behind to devote herself entirely to raising her children, each with their own personality and conflicts. The film begins at a time of change: her children begin to leave the nest, and Toni faces a question that many mothers avoid for years: who am I outside of motherhood? With a delicate tone, Toni and his family navigates between drama and everyday comedy, showing both the tensions and warmth that arise in a large family.
The film avoids falling into clichés, and instead offers real characters, with dialogues full of humanity and situations that are recognizable to any viewer. Camille Cottin shines as Toni: she is strong, ironic, tired, generous and deeply authentic. His performance brings to life a woman who has been left for the end for years, but gradually begins to claim herself. What makes this film special is its honest portrayal of family life: it does not idealize, but it does not over-dramatize. It shows the beauty of simple moments, the chaos of coexistence, the pain of goodbyes and the need to rebuild. Tickets to attend the screening can be purchased at this link.