Once Upon My Mother

Once Upon My Mother (Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan, 2025) is a French-Canadian comedy-drama — watch online on iFILM. Director Ken Scott draws on a true story: Paris, 1963, Esther gives birth to Roland, the youngest of six children, born with a club foot that doctors say will keep him from ever walking. Esther makes him a promise anyway.

Leïla Bekhti plays Esther with an unstoppable matter-of-factness that refuses self-pity. Jonathan Cohen takes over as the adult Roland, and the film follows their bond across decades of setbacks and small victories. Esther fights doctors, bureaucracy, and everyone around her who calls her delusional. The film earns its emotional moments through specifics — the exact stubbornness of one woman — rather than sweeping sentiment.

Sylvie Vartan appears as herself, anchoring the story in its era. At 102 minutes the film moves through time efficiently without skipping what matters. Stream Once Upon My Mother (2025) on iFILM.