The first time hearing the English version of the film’s title, the association was a mission from the game Red Dead Redemption 2, in which Arthur (the game’s main character) encounters two escaped prisoners chained together. Although the characters in Carine Tardieu’s film aren’t connected as literally and physically, it’s easy to see that they are bound together by emotional shackles, which are even more difficult to break than those made of metal. In addition, importantly, their ties are not necessarily due to blood, birth or choice, but are simply the work of chance. In The Ties That Bind Us there is no single main character, and the micro-community created by the creators has representatives so charismatic that it is impossible to take your eyes off them. 

Sandra (the phenomenal Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) and her two neighbors, Alex (Pio Marmaï) and his stepson Elliott (César Botti), are placed in the central position. Together they form a collective figure of the main character, and the director wants at least one of them in her scenes throughout the film. The tragic story that brings them irreversibly together is the first flashpoint for the film’s plot. From then on, the film turns upside down and the dynamics of the plot increase rapidly. Staying still with the cast, the excellent secondary cast is represented by the current young star of French cinema Raphaël Quenard (as of 2023 he has taken part in 12 projects at Mastercard OFF CAMERA to be seen also in Second Act) playing the role of David, who is Elliott’s biological father. 

The Ties That Bind Us has a screenplay structure divided into 12 chapters, which are sequentially titled by the age of Alex’s newborn daughter. All the characters involved in these sequences from Lucille’s life are extremely well-detailed by the creators, each character has a well-developed character portrait, and the decisions they make, the topics raised in their conversations and the goals in their actions are non-accidental and very well-detailed. Sandra, as the owner of a feminist library and representing a rather negative attitude towards children, discovers extremely good and magical skills in herself, which immediately make Elliot fall in love with her. The new reality that arises between the characters is a beautiful and colorful story of love, friendship, responsibilities, maturing, but also fun. This is a very well-created picture that spices up the so-called “warmth on the heart”. The touching French film touches on a wide spectrum of social issues and handles most of them more than well. This charming film by Carine Tardieu is very good is not necessarily a film that will completely change the perception of certain aspects of life, but it will be a screening to which we will sigh with a pleasant hint of nostalgia. 

The Ties That Bind Us (dir. Carine Tardieu) is to be seen during the 18th edition of the Mastercard OFF CAMERA Independent Cinema Festival within the Love Wins section.  

Screening list: 

• 02/05/2025 | 20:45 | Sala Czerwona | Kino Pod Baranami 

Marcin Telega