Life Is a Long Quiet River is a French comedy-drama film directed by Étienne Chatiliez, released in 1988. The film tells the story of two families, the Le Quesnoys and the Groseilles, whose babies get switched at birth by a clumsy nurse in a hospital in a small town in Northern France.
The Le Quesnoys are a wealthy family with a perfect life. Mrs Le Quesnoy is a beautiful, elegant woman who struggles to find something meaningful to do with her life, and her husband, Monsieur Le Quesnoy, is a successful doctor. Their daughter, Bernadette, is a straight-A student who dreams of becoming a doctor like her father, and their son, Baptiste, is a talented but unhappy musician who longs to break free from his parents' expectations.
On the other hand, the Groseilles are a poor family living in a crowded apartment. Mrs Groseille is a hardworking single mother who struggles to make ends meet, and her children are all a bit unruly. They eat canned food for dinner, wear old clothes, and don't have many books or toys, but they are happy, and they have a lot of love for each other.
The film fast-forwards 12 years, and the two families' paths cross once again when a letter arrives, revealing the mistake made in the hospital years ago. The Le Quesnoys and the Groseilles struggle to adapt to their new reality and find a way to make up lost time with their biological children. Along the way, they all learn valuable lessons about love, family, and the true meaning of happiness.
Life Is a Long Quiet River is a heartwarming and funny film that highlights the stark differences between social classes in modern-day France. It received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the César Award for Best Screenplay and the Prix Louis Delluc.