Once Upon My Mother

Once Upon My Mother | Saturday, February 6, 7:00pm

| 2025 | 102 min.| France/Canada| French (w/subtitles)

Discussion Leader: Jaime Hollander, LCSW

A sweeping, laughter-through-tears family saga spanning from 1960s Paris to the present, this exuberant crowd-pleaser traces a Moroccan-Jewish mother’s unshakable belief that love, faith, and sheer willpower can rewrite her son’s destiny. Leïla Bekhti delivers a radiant, powerhouse turn as Esther Perez, a spirited immigrant whose world is upended when she’s told her newborn son has a severe clubfoot and will never walk. Inspired by Roland Perez’s bestselling memoir, this French box-office sensation radiates warmth, humor, and irresistible emotional uplift. Blending laugh-out-loud humor with deeply moving moments, Once Upon My Mother is a universal celebration of the extraordinary lengths parents will go for their children. Vibrantly shot by Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman, the film bursts with color, energy, and the nostalgic sounds of French pop classics—including iconic songs by Jewish music legend Sylvie Vartan, who makes a delightful cameo appearance. Directed by Ken Scott.

Single price tickets are $10 for JCC members and $15 for guests at the door and $8 for members and $13 for non-members with prepayment. Refreshments are being provided by 518 Kosher and the SJCC.

Register Here!