Watch She's Not Crying, She's Singing

She's Not Crying, She's Singing is an emotional drama that explores the complex relationships between family members and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The film follows the story of Mathieu (Laurent Capelluto), a musician who has spent much of his life chasing his dreams but has never been able to shake off the feeling of failure. After receiving news that his estranged mother, Lina (Marijke Pinoy), has fallen ill, Mathieu returns to his hometown to reconcile with his family and face the demons of his past.

Upon arriving, Mathieu discovers that Lina is suffering from dementia and is being cared for by his older sister, Sarah (Erika Sainte). Sarah has abandoned her own dreams of becoming a singer to care for their mother, and Mathieu struggles to reconnect with her as she desperately tries to hold their family together.

The film delves into the complicated relationships between Mathieu, Sarah, and Lina as they confront their past traumas and strive to heal the wounds that have kept them apart. Mathieu begins to find solace in his music as he comes to terms with the mistakes of his past and seeks forgiveness from those he has wronged.

Meanwhile, Sarah is struggling to balance her responsibilities as a caretaker for their mother with her own aspirations of becoming a singer, despite the disapproval of their father (played by Jean-Henri Compère). The tension between the siblings grows as they face the reality of their mother's illness and the impact it has had on their family.

The story is grounded in the small town of Huy, Belgium, where Mathieu and Sarah grew up. The film takes advantage of the picturesque setting to create a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time before the family was torn apart by Lina's illness.

The acting in the film is outstanding, with the standout performances coming from Erika Sainte and Laurent Capelluto. Sainte perfectly captures the frustration and pain of a woman forced to sacrifice her own dreams for the sake of her family, while Capelluto portrays Mathieu's inner turmoil with a quiet intensity. Marijke Pinoy delivers a heartbreaking performance as Lina, capturing the confusion and fear of someone struggling with dementia.

Overall, She's Not Crying, She's Singing is an emotionally powerful film that explores the complexity of familial relationships and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The film showcases the talent of its cast and creators in delivering a story that is poignant and relatable. It is a must-watch for anyone who has experienced the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia or who has struggled to reconcile with their past.

She's Not Crying, She's Singing is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes.