Tomboy

You watch films like this and wonder how people can be so hateful towards those who simply wish to live their life in their most comfortable skin.

An amazing story of coming of age. I really connected with this movie and I think anyone can connect with the struggles as a child of discovering yourself while be confined by social norms. Amazing acting by Zoé Héran, a truly moving performance. Céline Sciamma is one of the best directors/writers I have ever seen and her ability to portray the difficulties of coming of age is truly brilliant. No one can show the turmoil and yet beauty in growing up like she can. This movie can at times feel slow, but you feel completely invested in the story. You feel as if you are almost in the same room, just another testament to Céline Sciamma's brilliant directing. A must watch film of coming of age.

A taboo topic perfectly managed by the director and screenplayer

Please note that this review contains spoilers. If you haven't seen the movie, reading reviews may spoil the viewing a bit. Tomboy tackles the complicated and taboo topic of gender identity. Short in duration, it also covers a fairly short period, a few summer days after a move. The film, therefore, remains rather vague on the before and after. The main character, Laure / Mickaël, is first presented without any gender qualifier or mention of their first name until a moving and, I must say, daring scene. The director treats a tween's relationship with their body with both intimacy and delicacy, and Zoé is absolutely exceptional in such an intimate role. Between the difficulty of lying on one side to their family and on the other to the other children, the confusion about their identity, their body, and even their sexual orientation (relationship with Lisa), the film is a touching tableau of identity questions of a young teenager. Its very memorable ending deals with the reaction of others after a forced coming-out. And the last scene, like Inception's spinning top, leaves a lot to the spectator's interpretation.

A good film overall, and the interactions between the two siblings are just magical and heart-melting. Very difficult, tricky subject (young girl sees herself/himself - and wants others to see her /him- as a boy) given an original and realistic representation. While the adults’ response was definitely harmful, I can also understand them - Laure-Mikael is 10/11 years old - we can understand the quandary of wanting to respect his wishes to be identified as male, but also worry about the potential hurt and dangers that will inevitably come from other kids’ and the community’s lack of understanding. And at what age can someone be sure of how they identify, or does age even matter? So many difficult questions - the movie doesn’t answer them, but it does present them in a refreshingly real way, and there is some hope in the not-altogether-happy ending.

Un film lent et malsain qui brouille sournoisement les frontières entre garçons et filles. On se prend à dire "il" en parlant de la petite Laure. Les réactions de l'entourage, entre laisser faire et humiliation, sont dans la caricature, probablement afin de susciter l'empathie. L'homosexualité est banalisée. Avec le mensonge en toile de fond. Un film qui provoque le malaise et détruira malheureusement un peu plus la jeune génération exposée scolairement de façon précoce à ce genre de film pro-théorie du genre (de l'aveu même de la réalisatrice). Je le déconseille fortement aux parents souhaitant éduquer leurs enfants à la liberté et aux valeurs morales. (On ne peut pas mettre moins d'une étoile, c'est dommage...)

Oh my god! THIS movie is very relatable!

Well acted, well written, and touching story. The movie made my heart ache with sadness and disappointment, very moving.

Such a sweet movie. It does an amazing job at reflecting how the girl feels. Just as it should be. This really teaches you something. You'll think about it after watching it.

Great movie that looks at the idea of finding ones sexual identification through the eyes of a child.