Movies: Better Days (2025) by Elsa Bennett and Hippolyte Dard: A Poignant and Humorous Look at the Journey to Recovery
- dailyentertainment95
- Aug 30
- 5 min read
The Unseen Struggle: A Story of Women and Alcoholism: Better Days (2025), originally titled Des jours meilleurs, is a French-Belgian drama-comedy directed by the duo Elsa Bennett and Hippolyte Dard. The film centers on a group of diverse women who are brought together in a rehabilitation clinic, where they must confront their shared struggle with alcoholism. As they bond over their individual stories and their hopes for a better future, they form a support system that helps them navigate the challenging path to recovery. The film is a poignant and often humorous exploration of a difficult topic, highlighting the human element behind the disease and the resilience of those who fight to overcome it.
Why to watch this movie & A Unique and Empathetic Look at a Taboo Subject:
A Groundbreaking Subject: The film stands out for its honest and empathetic portrayal of female alcoholism, a topic that is often underrepresented and misunderstood in cinema.
Strong Ensemble Cast: The film features a stellar cast of acclaimed actresses, including Valérie Bonneton, Michèle Laroque, and Sabrina Ouazani, whose performances bring a raw authenticity and depth to the characters.
A Blend of Genres: The film masterfully combines elements of drama and comedy, providing moments of levity and hope that balance the more serious and emotional aspects of the story.
Where to watch: https://www.universcine.com/films/des-jours-meilleurs (France)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29887422/
Link Review: https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-do-in-paris/cinema-series/articles/319513-better-days-film-2025
What is the Trend followed? & The Rise of Authentic and Human-Centered Social Dramas: Better Days follows the trend of social dramas that focus on a specific, often-taboo issue and explore it through the lens of individual human experience.
Highlighting Underrepresented Issues: The film gives a voice to a group—women with alcoholism—that is often invisible in mainstream media, contributing to a broader social conversation.
Humor as a Tool for Empathy: This trend uses humor not to make light of a serious subject, but to make the characters and their struggles more relatable and human, fostering a deeper connection with the audience.
Focus on Community and Healing: Instead of focusing on the isolated struggle, these films often highlight the importance of community and a support system in overcoming personal challenges.
Director's Vision & From Documentary to Human Drama: Elsa Bennett and Hippolyte Dard's vision for the film was to create a story that is both informative and deeply personal. Their background in documentary filmmaking informed their approach, bringing a sense of authenticity to the portrayal of addiction and recovery.
Authentic Characters: The directors wanted to create a diverse group of women, each with her own unique story and reason for being in the clinic, to show that alcoholism affects people from all walks of life.
A Call for Empathy: They aimed to move beyond stereotypes and encourage audiences to see alcoholism as a disease, not a moral failing.
Finding Light in the Darkness: The directors consciously chose to infuse the film with moments of humor and hope, to show that recovery is possible and that even in the darkest of times, there is room for growth and connection.
Themes & The Journey from Shame to Self-Acceptance:
Alcoholism as a Disease: The central theme is the exploration of alcoholism not as a choice but as a medical condition, highlighting the need for treatment and support.
The Power of Sisterhood: The film's core is the bond that forms between the women in rehab. This theme explores how shared struggle can forge powerful connections and provide the strength needed to heal.
Reclaiming One's Life: The film is about the women's journey to reclaim their lives, their identities, and their relationships, a process that requires courage and self-forgiveness.
Hope and Resilience: Despite the difficult subject matter, the film is ultimately a hopeful one, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of a "better day."
Key success factors & Critical Acclaim and Timely Relevance:
Strong Script and Direction: The film's success is rooted in its well-written script and the directors' sensitive handling of the subject, which has earned praise from critics.
A-list Cast: The presence of well-known and respected actresses has generated significant buzz and contributed to the film’s commercial appeal.
Addressing a Taboo Topic: The film’s focus on female alcoholism is timely and relevant, as it sheds light on a public health issue that is often kept in the shadows.
Positive Word of Mouth: Positive user reviews on platforms like IMDb suggest that the film is resonating with audiences who appreciate its honest and human portrayal of a difficult topic.
Awards & Nominations & A Promising Start: Better Days has received an IMDb rating of 6.4/10 based on user reviews and a positive critic reception, with a score of 10 critic reviews. While it may not have been nominated for major international awards yet, its selection for various film festivals and its strong user feedback indicate a positive critical reception.
Critics Reception & An Important and Well-Crafted Film:
User Review (IMDb): A user review from IMDb praises the film as a "good movie" that "highlights nicely the matter of the alcoholism of women," calling it a "disease." The reviewer also commends the well-played and well-directed nature of the film, although noting that some of the humor and scenes are not entirely "on point."
Overall Summary: Critics and users alike have praised the film for its important subject matter and its empathetic approach. The consensus is that while the film has moments of imperfection, it is an overall success in its goal of shedding light on a serious social issue in an accessible and engaging way.
Reviews & A Balanced Look at a Difficult Subject:
User Review (IMDb): The single user review on IMDb highlights the film's success in exposing the "multiple reasons that may lead someone to be touched by" alcoholism. The reviewer notes that the film is "well played, well directed" and appreciates its overall message.
Overall Summary: Reviews suggest that the film's strength lies in its ability to highlight a badly known matter and treat it with seriousness and empathy. The film is considered a valuable watch for those who want to be more informed about the problem of female alcoholism.
What Movie Trend film is following & The Sobering Reality: The film follows the trend of "sobering reality" films that use a non-judgmental lens to explore the complexities of addiction and recovery. These films are less about the dramatic rise and fall of an addict and more about the quiet, often-painful, journey to sobriety and self-discovery.
What Big Social Trend is following & De-stigmatizing Mental Health and Addiction: Better Days is part of a growing social trend to de-stigmatize mental health and addiction. By portraying alcoholism as a disease that can affect anyone, regardless of social status, the film contributes to a larger conversation aimed at replacing judgment and shame with empathy, understanding, and a greater emphasis on public health resources.
Final Verdict & A Vital and Compassionate Film: Better Days is a vital and compassionate film that succeeds in its mission to humanize the issue of female alcoholism. With its strong ensemble cast and sensitive direction, it is a film that is both educational and deeply moving. The blend of drama and comedy makes it an accessible entry point into a difficult subject, and its hopeful message about resilience and community is a powerful one. It is a highly recommended film that sheds light on an important topic and is well worth watching.
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