Take Good Care of My Baby (2017)

Directed by: Nicolas Daenens | 33 minutes | short film, drama | Actors: Lisa Chaltin, Lucas Chaltin, Luna Chaltin, Jimmy De Blieck, Eva Young

Eva is a single mother of three children and can barely keep her head above water. Despite towering debts, she takes care of her offspring and the people in the neighborhood with great love.​
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‘Take Good Care of My Baby’ is a lively movie. A lot is happening, the camera moves along and you feel the hectic pace of a young family.​ Partly due to this realistic way of filming, the film does not seem made, but rather truthful. The struggle with poverty is a very current problem. There are many young mothers like Eva who have to get by on very little. Yet there is not necessarily a sad atmosphere. Everyone is rowing with what they have and Eva does everything she can to let her children go through life as carefree as possible. In addition, she also takes care of local residents who could use some help.​
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The acting could have been a little better across the board, but it’s not really disturbing. At times, it almost feels like you’re watching a documentary, rather than a fictional one. As ‘Take Good Care of My Baby’ progresses, you feel more and more the pressure that Eva feels and her situation becomes more and more hopeless. This only seems to end badly.​
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In terms of atmosphere and story, ‘Take Good Care of My Baby’ is a kind of short, Flemish version of the British ‘I, Daniel Blake’. Both films show that the contact with people around you and in particular the feeling that you are not alone, can ensure that you do not give up but keep going.​ Like with Eva’s neighbor, who was in a similar situation when his daughter was a bit younger and who is there for Eva when it is really necessary. Who does good, meets good.​

‘Take Good Care of My Baby’ is an almost fairytale feel-good film, with a deep black edge. You can only hope that people help each other like that in real life when it comes down to it.​