Tomboy
Starring: Zoe Heran, Malonn Levana, Jeanne Disson
Director: Celine Sciamma
Rating: 4/5
Celine Sciamma made a huge impact with her debut movie Water Lilies back in 2008 and now three years later she is back with the ‘tricky’ second movie.
A French family with two daughters, 10-year-old Laure and 6-year-old Jeanne, moves to a new neighbourhood during the summer holidays.
With her Jean Seberg haircut and tomboy ways, Laure is immediately mistaken for a boy by the local kids and passes herself off as Michael.
Tomboy is a simply shot beautifully tender coming of age movie that tackles the subject of gender and sexuality and the confusion that surrounds everyone during that time.
This is a movie that will ring a bell with all who see it as we can all identify with the awkwardness and uncertainty of that age - a time when we are still unsure of who we are.
Sciamma never tries to ram her point of view into your face and you are left to decipher the message of the movie for yourself - if the something that Zoe will always battle against? Or is it simply a phase that she is going through?
The film never ties to be too clever with its subject matter it is set in everyday life following a child who is settling into a new home and enjoying the summer holiday.
Yes you could argue that the pace of the film is a little slow but that minor detail is swept away with the sensitivity and care that Sciamma tackles this subject matter.
Tomboy is one of the most touching movies that you will see this year it is beautifully written producing a very engaging and well rounded character that you can’t help but engage with and feel for as she goes on her journey of discovery.
Very few coming of age movies manage to create such a bond with the audience and understanding that we have all, in some shape of form, been in Zoe’s very confused shoes.
Tomboy is out now
Read out exclusive interview with director Celine Sciamma here
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw