Eight-year-old Nelly is remarkably gifted for her age, but the death of her grandmother has left her with questions she can’t answer. Compounding things is that, while staying in her grandmother’s house while it’s being cleared out, her mother leaves her with her father with no real explanation. One day, while walking in the woods, she discovers a girl her age building a hut. It isn’t long before she befriends her, as they have a lot in common. Actually, they have a bit too much in common, and Nelly realizes this may be the kind of brief-but-meaningful friendship that will literally never happen again.
Sweet, funny, and quietly devastating, Céline Sciamma’s new film Petite Maman is one of the lighter art house films I’ve seen recently, but will no doubt still pack an emotional punch. The film’s effectiveness is even more impressive given the brevity and simplicity of its story (the film itself is only 72 minutes including credits). The two girls in the lead roles do an amazing job, and I really felt the emotion in their performances.
As the film goes on, the deeper elements of the story start to become more apparent. There are clearly things happening here beyond the scope of the film’s length and near the end of the film, they get addressed, leading to one of the most powerful conversation sequences I’ve seen in a movie in recent memory. In addition, the film’s ambiguity works to its advantage, presenting the story as it is seen through the eyes of its eight-year-old lead. Also impressive are the limited means on which the film is produced. There are only a scant few locations used and only a handful of actors in total.
Because of the limited material presented, I’d prefer to refrain from saying too much. Just know that this is a must-see film whether you’re interested in speculative fiction or looking for a good family drama, and you won’t need much time to watch it. It’s a film that tells a great and powerful story by making the impossible possible. Just bring a box of tissues. You might need them.
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