Written and directed by Catherine Dulude, with charming animation by Annie Castiblanco and Kaya Schulz. Narrated with tender vulnerability by André Vrignon-Tessier, the French-language animated piece (subtitled in English) captures the trembling hope and raw anxiety of impending parenthood.
The story centers on a father, an ordinary man with extraordinary love for his daughter, Charlotte. He speaks of her with adoration, his words a hymn to the joy and fragility of parenthood. Yet, behind his warmth lies a shadow: two miscarriages have left indelible scars on his family. Now, with his wife pregnant again, his emotions are a swirling tempest. Fear and hope dance uneasily as he clings to dreams of the new life growing within, while haunted by memories of loss.
Dulude’s storytelling is achingly honest, and the film’s hand-drawn animation mirrors this intimacy. Rendered in soft, pink-hued tones, the illustrations feel almost like fragments of memory – fleeting and fragile. The simplicity of the animation belies its power; every line and color seems imbued with the father’s longing and love. It’s a visual language that speaks straight to the heart, inviting us into the quiet, vulnerable spaces of his soul.
‘Petit Mollusque’ is about the human capacity to carry hope even in the shadow of heartbreak. It’s a deeply touching exploration of resilience, love, and the delicate balance of fear and faith that defines parenthood. The film’s gentle pace and heartfelt narration make it as much a meditation as it is a story. A truly special film.
