Virginie Efira causes torrents of tears to be shed in Nothing to lose of Delphine Deloget, discovered in Cannes and awarded the Ornano-Valenti prize at the Deauville Festival. How can we not take up the cause of this single mother who has her youngest son taken away by social services after a stupid domestic accident? The cinema of Ken Loach, trendy Ladybirdclearly influenced this poignant story.
Supported by her second oldest son (Félix Lefebvre, discovered in Summer 85 by François Ozon, impeccable), his character tries to get his toddler back while being crushed by the administration. “The film questions what it is to be a mother,” explains Virginie Efira to 20 minutes. What society expects of her and the burden that this entails. » Renowned documentary maker Delphine Deloget signs an intense first feature film around this loving mother, swallowed up by the system.
A bad combination of circumstances
“I liked the fact that Delphine doesn’t blame anyone,” insists Virginie Efira. It just describes the drama that results from a bad combination of circumstances. » Even the reluctant social worker, played by the always remarkable Indian Hairis not totally detestable in this drama which makes the point of view of each of the characters understood.
“It’s a film that made me grow as an actor and also gain weight: I gained twenty kilos for the role,” confides Félix Lefebvre, 23, to 20 minutes. I learned a lot from Virginie Efira but also from Delphine Deloget who filmed us very closely to capture our emotions. » This staging bias and actors at their best make Nothing to lose a moving film coupled with a vibrant portrait of a woman in struggle.