Café de Flore (2011)

Decades, music and love link three people in Café de Flore.

It’s 2011, and Antoine Godin (Kevin Parent) is almost 40. He’s secure, healthy, has two daughters and a beautiful girlfriend, Rose (Évelyne Brochu), and is a successful DJ. His ex-wife Carole (Hélène Florent) is a little broken-hearted that he’s moved on to someone else since they were together for 20 years, seemingly destined to be together forever, and she also has disturbing dreams she can’t explain.

It’s 1969, and Jacqueline (Vanessa Paradis) gives birth to Laurent (Marrin Gerrier). He has Downs Syndrome, and she’s determined to raise him to the best of her abilities. Her love for her son is unmatched, and she will go to any lengths to protect him and teach him how to defend himself and live a good life.

As the film explores these people’s lives from different eras, we see Antoine lose the battle to save his marriage when he lays eyes on Rose, while Jacqueline sees Laurent become obsessed with a new friend. An unbelievable revelation moves everyone involved when Carole looks for alternative answers to get to the bottom of her dreams.

The late Jean-Marc Vallée wrote, directed and edited a gorgeous meditation on love “written in the stars” with music as a backdrop to tie these two timelines. Café de Flore follows what seems like a typical dissolution of a 20-year-old marriage and surprises with a unique and tender view on loss, love and mending relationships.