The fluorescent hum of the shelter’s common room cast a pale glow, illuminating a quiet tableau of hopeful desperation. Outside, the city lights blurred, but inside, a different kind of struggle flickered to life with each dawn. Jessica, her eyes shadowed with unspoken burdens, cradled her baby tightly, a silent prayer for a future she couldn’t yet see etching lines of worry onto her young face. Across the worn table, Perla, fierce and defiant, scrolled through job listings on a cracked phone, each rejection a fresh, personal sting. Julia, barely more than a child herself, clung to a tattered teddy bear, the weight of motherhood already pressing on her slender shoulders as she dreamt of a stability she’d never known. A sharp, weary laugh cut through the quiet: Ariane, always the pragmatist, was arguing with Naïma over a shared pot of pasta, their daily squabbles a brittle defense against a world that had offered them little. In this transient haven, these young mothers, scarred by their pasts, fought not just for themselves, but for the tiny, innocent lives they held dear, their dreams a fragile flame against the biting winds of reality.

Young Mothers Movie Overview
| Title | Young Mothers |
|---|---|
| Release Status | Released |
| Release Date | 2025-05-23 |
| Runtime | 1 hours and 46 minutes |
| Genre | Drama |
| Original Language | Fr |
| Spoken Language | French |
| Country | Belgium, France |
| Production Co. | Les Films du Fleuve, Archipel 33>35, The Reunion, France 2 Cinéma, BeTV, Orange, Proximus, RTBF, Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la FWB |
Young Mothers Movie Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Lucie Laruelle | Perla |
| Babette Verbeek | Jessica |
| Elsa Houben | Julia |
| Janaïna Halloy Fokan | Ariane |
| Samia Hilmi | Naïma |
| Jef Jacobs | Dylan |
| Günter Duret | Robin |
| Christelle Cornil | Nathalie, Ariane’s mother |
| India Hair | Morgane, Jessica’s mother |
| Joely Mbundu | Angèle, Perla’s mother |
| Claire Bodson | Isabelle, the psychologist |
| Eva Zingaro | Asun, the nurse |
| Adrienne D’Anna | Yasmine, educator |
| Mathilde Legrand | Lucie, educator |
| Hélène Cattelain | Silvie, educator |
| Selma Alaoui | Betty, the principal |
| Dominique Swinnen | La professeure de Julie |
| Dominique Desmet | Propriétaire fitness 1 |
| Juliette Duret | Daphné |
| Fabrizio Rongione | Propriétaire fitness 2 |
| Tijmen Govaerts | Miguel |
| Claudia Bruno | Assistante sociale adoption |
| Othmane Moumen | Délégué agence de location |
| Victoria Bluck | Puéricultrice crèche |
| Marc Zinga | Professeur de coiffure |
| Laurent Caron | Chico |
| Hind Jarfi | Mère de Naïma |
| Joanna Vandendriessche | Femme arrêt de bus |
| Gianni La Rocca | Livreur centrale pneus |
| Juliette Gourmet | Employée blanchisserie |
| Amel Benaïssa | Puéricultrice pouponnière |
| Caroline Hilgers | Réceptionniste pouponnnière |
| Jonas Rixen | Hugo (voix) |
| Christian Seradura | Mari de Morgane (voix) |
Young Mothers Movie Storyline
The world outside the cramped, echoing walls of the communal shelter often felt a million miles away to Jessica, Perla, Julia, Ariane, and Naïma, five young mothers bound by circumstance and the fierce, protective love for their children. Each arrived carrying a weight of difficult pasts, seeking refuge and a chance to rewrite their futures. Jessica, scarred by her own mother Morgane’s instability, fought tirelessly to establish a stable home, her eyes burning with a desire for independence. Perla, barely out of her teens, grappled with the enormity of her responsibilities, dreaming of finishing her studies while her infant cried. Julia, quiet and often overwhelmed, found herself slowly awakening to her own strength through the shared struggles, while Ariane, fiercely defensive, frequently clashed with the shelter’s rules, still reeling from the abandonment she felt from her mother Nathalie. Meanwhile, Naïma, the pragmatic eldest, navigated the bureaucratic maze of social services, determined to secure a real future for herself and her child beyond the temporary haven. A sudden threat to the shelter’s funding plunges them into deeper despair, forcing them to unite. They pool their meager resources and diverse skills, from Jessica’s stubborn advocacy to Naïma’s sharp wit, campaigning against the closure. Through collective action and raw vulnerability, they forge an unbreakable bond, transforming the shelter from a temporary stopgap into a crucible of resilience. The fight culminates in a poignant, hard-won victory, not necessarily securing a lavish future, but ensuring their communal sanctuary endures, leaving them with the quiet understanding that while life remains a relentless struggle, they are no longer fighting alone, their hopes for their children burning brighter than ever.
Young Mothers Movie Details
Young Mothers immerses audiences in the poignant, unvarnished lives of five determined young women residing in a shelter, each battling their pasts to forge a better future for themselves and their children. This compelling French-Belgian drama intimately portrays the everyday struggles and profound resilience of these mothers who, having grown up in challenging circumstances, are now fiercely dedicated to breaking cycles of hardship. We meet Jessica, whose quiet strength belies a deep resolve to provide stability for her child, constantly fighting against the echoes of her own difficult upbringing. Perla, brought to life by Lucie Laruelle, grapples with the delicate balance of her burgeoning independence and the overwhelming demands of new motherhood, seeking self-sufficiency with every step. Her friend Julia yearns for an education, seeing it as her only pathway out, while Ariane strives to create a loving, secure home, a stark contrast to the instability she’s always known. Rounding out this powerful ensemble is Naïma, whose unwavering spirit serves as an inspiration, her protective instincts for her baby driving her forward. Under the watchful, empathetic guidance of Isabelle, the shelter’s psychologist, these women find an unexpected sisterhood, sharing their vulnerabilities and triumphs. The film is an unflinching yet hopeful exploration of community, the enduring power of maternal love, and the relentless pursuit of dignity against societal odds, celebrating the unwavering human spirit in the face of adversity.
Young Mothers Movie Poster Images
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Movie Trailers
YOUNG MOTHERS | Official Trailer | In Select Theaters January 9
Official Trailer [Subtitled]
Young Mothers Movie FAQs
What is the movie “Young Mothers” about?
The movie follows five young mothers, Jessica, Perla, Julia, Ariane, and Naïma, who reside in a shelter. Having faced difficult pasts, they are all working towards creating a better life for themselves and their children.
Who directed “Young Mothers”?
The movie was directed by Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne.
What genre is “Young Mothers”?
Young Mothers is classified as a drama film.
When was “Young Mothers” released?
The movie was released on May 23, 2025.
What is the runtime of “Young Mothers”?
The film has a runtime of 106 minutes.
Who are some of the main cast members in “Young Mothers”?
The main cast includes Lucie Laruelle as Perla, Babette Verbeek as Jessica, Elsa Houben as Julia, Janaïna Halloy Fokan as Ariane, and Samia Hilmi as Naïma.
In what language is “Young Mothers” originally presented?
The original language of the movie is French.
Which countries produced “Young Mothers”?
The film is a co-production between Belgium and France.