17 Girls 2012

In the charming port city of Lorient, life’s unpredictable nature shakes Camille’s world as a spontaneous encounter thrusts her into a daunting new reality. This once care-free teenager now faces the profound implications of an unexpected pregnancy, a consequence stemming from a fleeting moment of vulnerability. As she navigates this new and challenging path, Camille’s relationships with her family and friends begin to transform. Her overburdened mother, who has long struggled to support the family, must now contend with Camille’s emerging sense of responsibility and her determination to carve out a brighter future for both herself and the baby growing inside her.

Confiding in her closest friends—Julia](/actor/julia-ballester), a devoted ally; Flavie, the practical problem-solver; Clémentine, the whimsical free spirit; and Mathilde, the grounded voice of reason—Camille shares her anxiety about pregnancy and the swirling emotions enveloping her. As she grapples with the crucial choice of whether to continue or terminate her pregnancy, her friends rally around her, providing invaluable support as she seeks clarity in her tumultuous journey.

In a surprising twist, Florence, a quiet and socially overlooked classmate, discovers comfort in knowing she, too, harbors personal challenges. Upon learning that Florence is also pregnant, Camille compassionately extends an invitation for her to join their group, nurturing a bond of understanding and solidarity between them.

As news of Camille’s pregnancy spreads throughout their school, strained relations arise between her and her mother. The ensuing confrontation unearths deep-seated conflicts and misunderstandings, ultimately leading Camille to emerge as a more resilient and self-assured individual.

Amidst these challenges, Camille suggests a radical idea to her friends: they should all become pregnant simultaneously, creating a supportive network for themselves that might be missing in their home lives. While Julia, Flavie, and Clémentine are intrigued by the notion, Mathilde quickly voices her concerns about its practicality.

As weeks roll by, Camille’s connections with those around her deepen and transform. She bravely reaches out to the baby’s father for the first time since their encounter, deciding she won’t impose parental responsibilities on him once the child arrives. With Julia offering her support, Camille reflects on what this means for her future.

At the same time, Clémentine confronts her own struggles for acceptance when she struggles to find romantic fulfillment among her peers, leading her to question her identity. As the group delves into the intricacies of life decisions, they must confront their biases and preconceptions, growing stronger and more empathetic in the process.

As the initial upheaval subsides, the concurrent pregnancies of Julia and Flavie set off a frenzy at school, with faculty scrambling to find resolutions to the escalating teenage pregnancy crisis. Determined to break free from parental oversight, the girls devise a plan to establish a communal living situation, relying on welfare to navigate their new roles as mothers. As awareness of their plans grows, more students—beyond Camille’s immediate social circle—find themselves unexpectedly pregnant, creating ripples of anxiety among parents, boys, and school staff. For Camille, the looming threat of expulsion adds to the tension, while the media catches wind of the unfolding drama, intensifying public scrutiny.

With a desire to join her friends in this newfound journey, Clémentine offers to pay a reclusive classmate for assistance, leading to an unexpected partnership. Initially hesitant, he eventually agrees, and Clémentine soon finds herself expecting. As Camille envisions her evolving role as a mother, the bond with her own mother begins to shift positively.

In a twist of fate, when Clémentine’s parents react angrily to her news, she finds refuge with Camille and their friends in an abandoned mobile home to forge their self-sufficient commune. However, during a torrential storm, Clémentine suffers a change of heart and returns to her parents, who ultimately accept her situation. The truth emerges when the group learns that Florence fabricated her pregnancy, leading to her exclusion from their circle.

Tragedy strikes when Camille experiences a devastating miscarriage following a minor accident. As the dust settles, both Camille and her mother vanish without explanation, leaving their friends in uncertainty until they finally reconnect after the birth of their children. The remaining expectant mothers eventually give life to new souls, but their initial dreams of a communal child-rearing venture dissipate as everyone’s paths begin to drift apart.