The Only One

Set in the present day, the film uses modern life details—computer lessons, rest-home routines, and travel plans—to ground its story. The age of the characters and the social dynamics reflect current attitudes toward aging and caregiving. The narrative unfolds in familiar places, emphasizing everyday choices and their consequences in a modern context.

The story unfolds in a Flemish suburban setting centered on an elderly man who moves between his daughter's home and his own. A rest home forms a key backdrop for care, clashes, and quiet drama, while the nearby houses host intimate encounters and daily friction. Travel dreams to Spain and studies in France frame the characters’ ambitions and the financial pressures shaping family life. The domestic spaces underline how private loyalties are tested when independence competes with obligation.

🧓 Aging

Aging is portrayed as a period of both independence and vulnerability. Lucien’s stubborn desire to control his life clashes with family expectations, highlighting the tension between autonomy and care. The theme explores how society should support elders while honoring their dignity and choices.

💞 Late-life Romance

The plot threads romance into late life, revealing how passion, secrecy, and renewal can emerge after long marriages. Lucien’s past with Mathilde and his later connection to Sylvia complicate loyalties and threaten delicate family finances. The theme examines emotional honesty, consequences, and the price of staying true to oneself.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family vs Self

A central conflict pits family duties and financial planning against individual desires and freedom. Gerda’s insistence on control clashes with Lucien’s need for independence, while decisions about rest homes and travel expose fault lines within the family. The story questions how to balance care with personal dignity.