While too many American movies are high-concept dramas which posit extraordinary (or impossible) things happening to people, the French make movies about life, embracing all the crazy, contradictory, messy aspects of living, trying to stay sane, getting along with other people, and dying with dignity.  Few alien invasions, car chases, kidnappings, heists, vampires or robots bursting into sentience are present in French films, and none of those are in The Midwife, thank goodness.

Martin Provost’s film is centered on Claire (Catherine Frot), a middle-aged midwife at a city hospital which is soon to close.  Her grown son is about to break some big news on his future, and suddenly a voice from the past is heard when Beatrice (Catherine Deneuve), his father’s former mistress, arrives in town looking to reconnect.  Claire even meets a man as everything in her life seems to erupt, which is how things so often occur, and not just on the other side of the Atlantic.

While Beatrice’s arrival seems like a hook (because it is), it nevertheless has a strong foundation in the story, and it allows Claire to gain a completely different perspective on her life and her future.  Beatrice is completely different than Claire in almost every way imaginable, and yet they share a link that ties them together.  Plus, Beatrice needs Claire’s help, and Claire is unable to turn away, no matter how many painful memories recur.  It then follows that every single aspect of Claire’s life is altered by the presence and actions of Beatrice — including her relationships with her son and her new male friend.

Catherine Deneuve, now 73 and still absolutely lovely, brings energy and joy to her role; the movie really gains power when she arrives.  Catherine Flot gives Claire the requisite stability, and then slowly, gradually, allows her to change.  And Olivier Gourmet is very impressive as Paul, the man who sees something in the midwife Claire that she doesn’t see in herself.  These performers bring to life realistic characters in a story where little seems to go right for them, but they cope the best that they can, take joy where they can find it, and keep going.  It’s what we do.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  27 August 2017.