An achingly tender and sweetly funny coming-of-age movie, Tomboy tells the story of ten year-old Laure, who moves to a new Paris suburb with her family. It’s the summer holidays, and all the local kids are running riot around the neighbourhood. Boyish Laure, when first meeting with the gang, introduces herself as Michael. The other kids don’t even blink: Michael it is. And so the summer fun begins, with Laure, now Michael, doing everything she can to keep her new identity secret. But as the holidays draw to an end, and the threat of school looms, things start to get complicated.

Rent this now for £2.99, just click Rent Film

Filmmaker Céline Sciamma keeps her atmospheric focus squarely on a richly observed, nonjudgmental summer tableau of children in frolic.
Quiet and naturalistic in the best way, the French film "Tomboy" rolls out a tale of malleable pre-adolescent identity with a marked absence of sensationalism. (Los Angeles Times, Robert Abele)

Ms. Sciamma displays an obvious talent for working with young actors, who, by virtue of their age, bring a natural pathos to the screen. The story that emerges is programmatic and largely unsurprising, but these children give it messiness, joy and life. (New York Times, Manhola Dargis)

EIFF 2011
Berlinale 2011
Cannes Film market
Los Angeles FF
New Fest New York (LGBT FF)
Tokyo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Hong Kong IFF

Share

Tweet