Once Upon My Mother

Once Upon My Mother

Original Title: Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan
Release: 2025 | Community Score: 69%

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.

Cast

Leïla Bekhti

Leïla Bekhti

Esther Perez
Jonathan Cohen

Jonathan Cohen

Roland Perez (Adult)
Joséphine Japy

Joséphine Japy

Litzie Gozlan
Sylvie Vartan

Sylvie Vartan

Sylvie Vartan
Jeanne Balibar

Jeanne Balibar

Mrs. Fleury
Lionel Dray

Lionel Dray

Maklouf Perez
Anne Le Ny

Anne Le Ny

Mrs. Vergepoche
Milo Machado-Graner

Milo Machado-Graner

Jacques Perez (12-17 years old)
Naïm Naji

Naïm Naji

Roland Perez (5-7 years old)
Iliana Belkhadra

Iliana Belkhadra

Nicole Perez (15-20 years old)
Naël Rabia

Naël Rabia

Edmond Perez (14-19 years old)
Luc Sitbon

Luc Sitbon

Harold (16-17 years old)
Saber Hallout

Saber Hallout

Nina Bouffier

Nina Bouffier

Jacqueline Perez (16-21 years old)
Noé Schecroun

Noé Schecroun

Roland Perez (11-13 years old)
Gabriel Hyvernaud

Gabriel Hyvernaud

Roland Perez (3-5 years old)
Alice Abraham

Alice Abraham

Ludivine (18-20 years old)
Valentine Atlan

Valentine Atlan

Mrs. Colette Bentolila
David Ayala

David Ayala

Mr. Foenkinos
Léonard Barbier

Léonard Barbier

Other Assistant
Yaël Dyens

Yaël Dyens

Mrs. Yasmine Fahrat
Bertrand Goncalves

Bertrand Goncalves

Record seller 2
Jean-Bohémond Leguay

Jean-Bohémond Leguay

The pianist
Ariane Massenet

Ariane Massenet

Sophie D
Justine Pesin

Justine Pesin

Secretary
Romy Moukvoz

Romy Moukvoz

Lorie (14-15 years old)
Gilbert Coudurier

Gilbert Coudurier

Producer
Jean-Claude Matthey

Jean-Claude Matthey

Admirer (uncredited)
Gabriel Alves Marques

Gabriel Alves Marques

Richard Perez (9-14 years old)
Gladys Cohen

Gladys Cohen

Mrs. Benayoun
Anna Lebovits

Anna Lebovits

Mrs. Flora Dahan
Haïly Yssembourg Da Cunha

Haïly Yssembourg Da Cunha

Ludivine (10-11 years old)
Jim Belleé Geffray

Jim Belleé Geffray

Jacqueline Perez (12 years old)
Ayoub Baccar

Ayoub Baccar

Jacques Perez (8 Years Old)
Zakeline Varesis

Zakeline Varesis

Nicole Perez (11 Years Old)
Nehlen Hachelafi

Nehlen Hachelafi

Richard Perez (5 Years Old)
Eliott Taché-Maréchau

Eliott Taché-Maréchau

Edmond Perez (10 Years Old)
Astrid Whettnall

Astrid Whettnall

Mile Corbeau
Baptiste Carrion-Weiss

Baptiste Carrion-Weiss

Harold (24-28 Years Old)
Christophe Kourotchkine

Christophe Kourotchkine

Doctor Balthany
Sophie Arama

Sophie Arama

Lorie (22-24 Years Old)
Gerald Cesbron

Gerald Cesbron

Mr. Cohen
François Perache

François Perache

Dr. Hauthier
Franck Mercadal

Franck Mercadal

Dr. Marimon
Loïc Guingand

Loïc Guingand

Médecin de la production
Cédric Moreau

Cédric Moreau

Record Seller 1
Caroline Gay

Caroline Gay

Psychiatrist
Roland Perez

Roland Perez

Headmaster of a school for children performers
Julia Duchaussoy

Julia Duchaussoy

Sylvie Vartan (Young)
Agnès Afriat

Agnès Afriat

Litzie's Mother
Didier Brice

Didier Brice

Oncologist
Yvon Martin

Yvon Martin

1st Assistant
Jean-Noël Martin

Jean-Noël Martin

Prosecutor
Antoine Pinquier

Antoine Pinquier

Stage Manager
Zohar Wexler

Zohar Wexler

Swiss Professor
Antoine Venet

Antoine Venet

Roland (Newborn) 1
Valentin Venet

Valentin Venet

Roland (Newborn) 2
Léandre Calvagnac

Léandre Calvagnac

Roland (Newborn) 3
Arséne Calvagnac

Arséne Calvagnac

Roland (Newborn) 4
Benjamin Gauthier

Benjamin Gauthier

Hubert Le Forestier
Édouard Michelon

Édouard Michelon

Doctor 1
Pascal Voglimacci

Pascal Voglimacci

Doctor 2
Nicolas Dangoise

Nicolas Dangoise

Doctor 3
Yanis Ben Seghaier Cromier

Yanis Ben Seghaier Cromier

Harold (8 Years Old)
Capucine Guimet

Capucine Guimet

Lorie (6 Years Old)
Philippe Dusseau

Philippe Dusseau

Jacques Chirac
Ary Szenkier

Ary Szenkier

Rabin Ellyahou
Victor Barbier

Victor Barbier

Law Student
Laurent Gerra

Laurent Gerra

Johnny Hallyday (voice)
Laurent Bariteau

Laurent Bariteau

Conservatory Professor
Liam Hinfray

Liam Hinfray

Roland (5-9 Years Old) (uncredited)
Joe Dassin

Joe Dassin

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Johnny Hallyday

Johnny Hallyday

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)