Young Mothers (2025) review

At a women's shelter in Belgium, extremely young first-time moms are struggling: pregnant Jessica (Babette Verbeek) desperately tries to reconnect with her birth mother (who abandoned her), Perla (Lucie Laruelle) wants her boyfriend to live with her, Ariane (Janaïna Halloy Fokan) is strongly considering giving her baby up for adoption (against her abusive mother's wishes), Julie (Elsa Houben) is studying to become a hair stylist but can't kick her drug addiction, etc.  Historically, the Dardennes have focused on sociological concerns that most filmmakers couldn't be bothered with and for this latest film of theirs, the two of them are stressing the importance of a stable support system for "girls in trouble" - since their subjects have lousy home lives - except they overextended themselves here, trying to cover too many storylines in a rather limited timespan and the misery continuously stacks up.  It veers a little too close to being an artsy public service announcement - practicing safe sex is the answer to these issues - although Jessica's long-awaited "reunion" with the woman who brought her into the world is a touching moment.