My Body and Them, the new prominent drama by Danielle Trottier
Montreal, March 25, 2019 - They have their whole lives ahead of them, yet they have to grow old very quickly. This is the fate of the pregnant teenagers at the heart of My Body and Them, the new major annual drama that Danielle Trottier brings to audiences after Unit 9, which concludes after seven successful seasons. My Body and Them revolves around a unique institution in the world: Marie-Labrecque School. It welcomes some sixty young girls aged 12 to 17, all pregnant or new mothers. It has the dual mission of overseeing their education and preparing them to assume their role as mothers to the point where, after giving birth, they will be able to care for the fragile and totally dependent little being they have brought into the world. Nothing could be further guaranteed! It's a major challenge, and it must be achieved in a few months.
Like the sixty or so girls who attend the school, Edwidge, Flora, Den, Camille, and Jolène are firmly committed to continuing their studies, while 13-year-old Anaïs ardently desires admission, but she will have to convince her parents. At the same time, these girls must make a hasty entry into the adult world, even though they struggle with issues common to many of today's teenagers: low self-esteem, family conflict, oversexualization, eating disorders, anxiety, abandonment, and other issues. The dream is there, but the reality is demanding, and there's no guarantee that they'll obtain custody of their child at birth.
Composed of dedicated teachers and counselors, including Christophe, the new psychoeducator, Marie-Labrecque's team, led by Tina, supports them as much as they can to help them succeed in their studies and put their minds and lives in order to prove they're capable of caring for their child. These caregivers often make the difference, but not always. They will sometimes be helpless witnesses to a steep slope or unexpected life shocks.
Being a parent is perhaps the most difficult job there is. Taking it on prematurely requires not only love, but a good dose of resilience, and probably a little luck. Will Edwidge, Anaïs, Flora, Den, Camille, and Jolène succeed at the end of this emotional journey?
Produced by Fabienne Larouche and Michel Trudeau for Aetios Productions, My Body and Them will be directed by Jean-Philippe Duval, who directed all seasons of Unit 9. The team is currently building the cast of the series, which is scheduled to air in the fall 2019 season of ICI TÉLÉ.
