Camille Cottin Shines in a Fresh Take on LGBTQ+ Storytelling
In Les Enfants vont bien, actress Camille Cottin takes on the role of a newly single lesbian woman who suddenly becomes the primary caregiver to her niece and nephew. It’s a poignant and layered performance that marks her second collaboration with rising director Nathan Ambrosioni. Building on the emotional resonance of their previous work, Toni, en famille, this film offers a quieter yet just as affecting shift in tone. Cottin’s character is in the midst of rediscovering herself, all while managing unexpected family responsibilities. Her sexuality is a part of her character’s identity—but refreshingly, it’s not the central focus of the drama.
A Collaborative Spark Between Actor and Director
Camille Cottin and Nathan Ambrosioni have forged a strong creative partnership that seems to grow with every project. At just 26 years old, Ambrosioni returns to direct Cottin after their acclaimed work on Toni, en famille. Their relationship thrives on mutual trust and a shared commitment to emotional authenticity. “Camille has an instinctive grasp of the emotional truths I try to capture,” says Ambrosioni. In Les Enfants vont bien, she is given a role that is both deeply personal and subtly political—set within a nuanced family dynamic that feels grounded and real.
Redefining the Lesbian Protagonist
In this new role, Cottin portrays an openly lesbian character, but the film intentionally steers away from predictable tropes. Her sexual orientation is part of her life, not the source of its challenges. This creative choice emphasizes normalcy over conflict. As Ambrosioni puts it, “If anyone says being with women complicates her story, that only confirms why it matters that she’s a lesbian. It’s a political stance.” By focusing on her character’s humanity rather than reducing her to her sexuality, the film helps usher in a more inclusive and realistic wave of LGBTQ+ representation.
At Its Heart, a Story About Family
Continuing with themes he has woven into each of his films, Ambrosioni dives deep into the complexities of family in Les Enfants vont bien. Following earlier projects like Les Drapeaux de papier and Toni, en famille, the young filmmaker again asks vital questions about what it means to belong. The film centers on an aunt who unexpectedly finds herself in a parental role after her sister’s departure. As she navigates emotional turmoil and grows into her new responsibilities, the story becomes a moving exploration of nontraditional families, intergenerational connection, and the bonds that form out of necessity—and love.
Camille Cottin: A Powerful Voice in Queer Cinema
With this role, Camille Cottin solidifies her position as a compelling figure in today’s evolving queer cinema. Her character is part of a growing trend of lesbian leads who are portrayed as multifaceted individuals—beyond just their sexual identities. She joins the ranks of richly written queer characters seen in films such as Des preuves d’amour by Alice Douard and Love Me Tender by Anna Cazenave Cambet. Ambrosioni wholeheartedly supports this shift: “Queer characters deserve to be in stories that aren’t centered around pain or exclusion. They should have the same emotional range and love stories as anyone else.”
A Quietly Powerful Performance
In Les Enfants vont bien, Camille Cottin delivers a performance both understated and emotionally compelling. She portrays a woman trying to find firm footing in a suddenly changed world, bringing warmth, humor, and deep vulnerability to the role. Her work beautifully captures a journey of healing and self-redefinition, firmly establishing her as one of the most nuanced performers in contemporary European cinema. Her performance also showcases director Nathan Ambrosioni’s growing depth as a filmmaker whose stories resonate with sincerity and purpose.
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