Madame Doesn't Want Children

In the heart of the roaring twenties, the friction between traditional domesticity and the burgeoning independence of the 'New Woman' takes center stage in Madame Doesn't Want Children. The story follows Elyane, a vibrant and modern socialite who views marriage as a partnership of pleasure rather than a biological obligation. When she marries Paul, a man who harbors deep-seated desires for a conventional hearth and a nursery full of children, the ideological collision is immediate. Set against a backdrop of jazz-age decadence and sleek Weimar-era interiors, the film explores the negotiation of personal autonomy within the confines of 1920s legal and social structures. As Paul attempts to steer Elyane toward motherhood through various schemes and social pressures, the narrative transforms from a lighthearted comedy of manners into a poignant critique of marital expectations. The film doesn't just ask if a woman should have children; it questions whether a woman’s identity can exist outside the shadow of the cradle in a world that isn't quite ready for her liberation.