Bad Seeds

Bad Seeds (original title: Mauvaises herbes) is a French comedy-drama written and directed by Kheiron, who also stars as Wael, a former street child turned small-time scammer. He works alongside his adoptive mother and partner-in-crime, Monique, played by Catherine Deneuve. Their luck changes when a swindle goes wrong and they get pulled into helping troubled kids through an unconventional support program. Set in Paris, the film blends humor with social themes as Wael uses streetwise instincts, empathy, and tough love to guide young people who are often written off by the system. The story builds around redemption, found family, and the idea that people can grow beyond their past, all without giving away the bigger turns.

Reception for Bad Seeds was generally positive with viewers, and IMDb currently lists it at 7.2/10 based on thousands of ratings, suggesting solid audience approval rather than a niche cult response. IMDb user reviews frequently praise the film's warmth, humor, and heart, with several viewers calling it inspiring, clever, and emotionally effective. The film is also often described as balancing comedy with heavier material such as youth hardship, racism, misogyny, and social exclusion, which gives it broader appeal than a simple feel-good story. At the same time, some audience comments suggest the movie's tone can feel uneven or too sentimental for viewers expecting a sharper drama. Overall, it comes across as an earnest crowd-pleaser: not universally acclaimed, but well liked for its optimism, character work, and the chemistry between Kheiron and Catherine Deneuve.