Year: 2013
Runtime: 109 min
Language: French
Directors: Alexandre de La Patellière, Mathieu Delaporte
A group of close friends comes together to celebrate the upcoming birth of a child. However, the parents' unusual choice of name, Adolf, unexpectedly triggers a series of difficult memories and uncomfortable reflections for the group. As they navigate the joyous occasion, they are also forced to confront shared experiences and the shadows of their own histories, testing the bonds of their friendship.
Get a spoiler-free look at What's in a Name? (2013) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the warm confines of a Parisian apartment, a close‑knit circle gathers to celebrate the imminent arrival of a new life. The evening is marked by the clatter of dishes, the scent of home‑cooked food, and a restless anticipation that hovers between joy and the subtle anxiety that often accompanies change. Lighthearted banter mixes with the soft hum of a city that never quite silences its own histories, setting a tone that is simultaneously intimate and edged with an unspoken tension.
Vincent—a charismatic real‑estate broker who is about to become a father—hosts the dinner, flanked by his supportive sister Elisabeth and her husband Pierre, a man whose polished veneer hints at deeper reservations. Their longtime friend Claude, a trombonist with a breezy artistic flair, adds a melodic undercurrent to the conversation, while Anna, Vincent’s business‑savvy partner, arrives fashionably late, her presence promising a balance of pragmatism and affection. Each character brings a distinct perspective, their relationships forged over years of shared triumphs and quiet compromises.
When a playful suggestion about naming the unborn child after a literary figure surfaces, the joke takes an unexpected turn, echoing a fraught chapter of history that none of the guests can ignore. The remark—meant to tease—quickly unravels the comfortable rhythm of the night, coaxing memories and unvoiced sentiments to the surface. Beneath the humor lies a delicate dance of pride, vulnerability, and the lingering shadows of past choices that have quietly shaped each of them.
As the evening unfolds, the gathering becomes a mirror reflecting the fragile balance between friendship and personal truth. The atmosphere swirls with warm laughter and fleeting silences, inviting the audience to wonder how far the group will stretch to preserve their bonds when the past nudges its way into the present. The film promises a nuanced exploration of connection, identity, and the quiet courage required to confront what lies just beneath the surface.
Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:27
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Where a single evening's conversation unravels lives and relationships.If you enjoyed the sharp dialogue and raw emotions of What's in a Name?, explore more movies where a single dinner party becomes a crucible for hidden truths. These films use a confined setting to create intense, character-driven stories about friendship, secrets, and social hypocrisy.
These narratives typically unfold in real-time or over a single evening, beginning with lighthearted social interaction that gradually deteriorates as a triggering event—a revelation, a confession, or a provocative statement—forces characters to confront uncomfortable truths, leading to heated arguments and emotional fallout.
They are grouped by their shared setting, which creates a claustrophobic and intimate atmosphere, and by their narrative engine: using dialogue as the primary tool to expose character flaws, test loyalties, and delve into deep-seated conflicts within a group.
Stories where deep friendships are tested by painful truths.For viewers who liked the bittersweet examination of friendship in What's in a Name?, this collection features similar stories. Discover films where close-knit groups are forced to confront past betrayals and unspoken resentments, leading to emotionally raw and ultimately cathartic resolutions.
The narrative follows a group of friends whose stable dynamic is shattered by a revelation or conflict. The story delves into interconnected backstories, forcing each character to be emotionally vulnerable. The journey is painful but necessary, often ending with a fragile, hard-won understanding rather than a simple happy resolution.
These films are connected by their focus on the emotional weight of adult friendships, the theme of confronting the past, and a tone that balances sharp, often humorous, observation with genuine pathos, leading to a conclusion that feels authentically bittersweet.
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