Belgium's Dardenne brothers win Best Screenplay Award at Cannes film festival

Although they were in the running for a third Palme d’Or at Cannes, Belgium’s feted film directors Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne are celebrating a Best Screenplay Award for their film Jeunes Mères (Young Mothers).

This was their 10th film to be selected for the presitigious competition and their 9th award overall, cementing their status as one of the most awarded filmmakers in the festival's history.

For their latest social realism drama, the Dardenne brothers delve into the story of five teenagers in a maternity home that is helping them adjust to their new lives as young mothers.

Set in their home city of Liège, it follows the teens’ lives as they are shown how to care for their babies. Some of them are assisted in making contact with prospective adoptive parents, others how to cope with addiction, depression and family contact, as well as find housing. The poignant film explores the options facing these teen mothers once they have decided to continues their pregnancies.

Amid the celebrations for achieving a new trophy, the Dardennes’ appearance at Cannes provoked further tributes for the actor Emilie Dequenne who died of cancer earlier this year. She made her debut in their Palme-winning film Rosetta 25 years ago, playing a very similar role to the young teenagers in this latest drama.

Jeunes Mères was greeted by a long standing ovation at its premiere. It was an emotional moment also for the five remarkable unknown actors playing the lead roles: Janaina Halloy, Samia Hilmi, Elsa Houben, Lucie Laruelle and Babette Verbeek.

Recalling Dequenne, the brothers told RTBF after the ceremony: “Emilie was on the side of life. She would have said to us, “hey guys, I’m here but so are these young girls”.”

There was further success for Belgian filmmakers at the 78th edition with four films and five co-productions also selected for its various sections.

The Palme d’Or was awarded to Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi for his drama It Was Just an Accident. Inspired by his periods of imprisonment at the hands of the Iranian government, the dissident director made the film in secret after being released from prison in 2023.

Jeunes Mères goes on general release in Belgium on 4 June.

Photos: ©Belga/James Arthir Gekiere; Wallonie Bruxelles Images