Director: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Cast: Lucie Laruelle, Babette Verbeek, Elsa Houben, Janaïna Halloy Fokan, Samia Hilmi

Young Mothers is a 2025 Belgian-French drama directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, following five women navigating the demands of early motherhood while living in a transitional shelter — a quiet, unflinching portrait of resilience and hope on the margins of society.

What is Young Mothers about?

In a residential shelter on the outskirts of a Belgian city, five young women are raising their children under one roof. Each carries her own history of hardship — fractured families, poverty, difficult decisions made too young. The Dardenne brothers follow their daily routines with characteristic patience: the early mornings, the small negotiations with social workers, the moments of unexpected tenderness between mothers and infants. As the weeks pass, we see each woman confronting choices about her future — whether to return to a family home that may not be safe, to pursue work or education, or to forge an entirely new path. The film neither judges nor sentimentalizes these lives; it simply watches, with care, as five women try to build something solid for themselves and their children.

Cast & crew

The film is directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, the Belgian filmmaking duo renowned for their naturalistic, handheld style. The ensemble includes Lucie Laruelle, Babette Verbeek, Elsa Houben, Janaïna Halloy Fokan, and Samia Hilmi as the five central mothers, alongside Jef Jacobs, Günter Duret, and Christelle Cornil in supporting roles. All performances are rooted in the Dardennes' signature approach of working with both professional and non-professional actors.

Context & significance

For Persian-speaking viewers in the diaspora, Young Mothers carries a particular emotional weight. Stories of women raising children in difficult conditions, far from extended family support, navigating institutions that are not always kind — these are experiences that resonate across cultures. The Dardenne brothers have spent four decades documenting working-class life in Belgium with a precision that feels universal. This film is available on K-Time with a Persian dub and Persian subtitles, so viewers can follow every quiet, significant exchange in their preferred language without compromise.

Where & how to watch

Young Mothers is available on K-Time with a Persian dub and Persian subtitles. Watch on the web, on your TV, or on your phone — no VPN required, no geo-blocking, no extra download needed. Start or cancel anytime.