Out of Love Review: Nathan Ambrosioni Explores Parenthood and Abandonment in a Poetic but Safe Drama

Nathan Ambrosioni, France’s 25-year-old filmmaking prodigy, continues to impress with his emotional sensitivity and cinematic ambition in his latest feature, Out of Love. Premiering at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Crystal Globe Competition, the film delves into motherhood, grief, and chosen family — though its promising themes are slightly undercut by a hesitant third act.

Often compared to Xavier Dolan, Ambrosioni once again proves himself as a gifted director of complex female characters. In Out of Love, he focuses on Jeanne (played against type by Camille Cottin), a woman unexpectedly saddled with guardianship of her niece and nephew when her sister Suzanne (Juliette Armanet) mysteriously abandons them.

Plot Summary:

What begins as a seemingly routine family reunion turns into a quiet crisis. Jeanne, still recovering from a recent breakup with ex-girlfriend Nicole (Monia Chokri), is stunned when Suzanne arrives unannounced with her two children — only to vanish overnight, leaving Jeanne with nothing but a note and a set of keys. The mystery of Suzanne’s disappearance hangs heavy over the film, but Ambrosioni avoids thriller territory in favor of quiet, internal emotional unraveling.

The strongest element in Ambrosioni’s screenplay is Jeanne’s reluctant transformation. Childless by choice and emotionally guarded, Jeanne must come to terms with motherhood in a situation where no clear roadmap exists. Her evolving relationship with the children, especially the perceptive nine-year-old Gaspard (Manoâ Varvat), is the film’s emotional backbone.

Strengths and Shortcomings:

While the performances — especially from Cottin — are compelling and nuanced, the film ultimately pulls back from the darker implications it initially teases. Issues like emotional abandonment, grief, and the social expectations of motherhood are introduced but not explored in depth. The narrative veers into familiar territory, opting for a feel-good resolution that plays more like a Pixar-style message about chosen family than the complex psychological drama it initially promises.

Yet Ambrosioni’s talent is undeniable. The cinematography is intimate, the dialogue raw, and the direction clear-eyed. Out of Love may not fulfill the full potential of its themes, but it signals a director unafraid to explore emotional territory many filmmakers twice his age would hesitate to touch.