- Starring
- Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse
- Writer
- Céline Sciamma
- Director
- Céline Sciamma
- Rating
- n/a
- Running Time
- 72 minutes
- Release Date
- n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.
French filmmaker and screenwriter Céline Sciamma quickly transitioned from being a festival favorite to an international superstar, following her 2019 magnum opus, Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Cinephiles have since been eagerly awaiting Sciamma’s next move, but as many seasoned filmmakers can tell you, it is no easy task following up an opus, especially one as unanimously beloved and culturally important.
Petite Maman chronicles the adventures of Nelly, (Joséphine Sanz), an eight-year-old girl coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother. Despite her intelligence for her age, Nelly doesn’t truly grasp the concept of death or understand how it can affect the emotional state of the adults around her. When her mother suddenly leaves, Nelly places the blame on herself. Waiting patiently for her mother’s return, Nelly forms a strong friendship with another eight-year-old girl and through their bond, she gains a greater appreciation for her mother and her family lineage. The premise is woven together by a high concept idea that is best watching while knowing as little as possible.
Those of you expecting another opus should temper their expectations. Clocking in at a mere 72 minutes, “petite” is an apt title as this sweet and delicate childhood tale yields far closer to Sciamma’s work on My Life as a Zucchini than Portrait of a Lady on Fire or Tomboy. Sciamma leaves behind her fascination of sexual liberation and gender fluidity, and instead crafts an ode to the magic of childhood.
While Sciamma’s screenwriting abilities are impressive, her direction here is not as highly detailed or ambitious as her previous films. The high concept that the film revolves around is not as fully realized as one may expect from as skilled of a filmmaker. With so little to work with, it’s hard to not think that there is so much more to explore in this world as the film only scratches the surface.
While Petite Maman doesn’t necessarily live up to its full potential, it is still an endearing and thoroughly enjoyable entry into her already impressive filmography. The film is strung together by a witty script that has lines of dialogue that will certainly put a smile on the most cynical audience member’s face. The film also features two impressive child performances by real-life twins, Joséphine and Gabrielle Sans who play off each other very well.
Despite its shortcomings, Petite Maman is a creative film that pays tribute to the sacrifices that mothers make for their children and celebrates that special time in our lives when we relied on our imagination to make sense of the world around us.
still courtesy of Elevation Pictures
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