Our man Paul Koren is currently out in Germany at the Berlin Film Festival, the first major European film festival of 2011, and just last night, on his first day out there, managed to catch the French movie Tomboy.
Here is Paul’s review of the film.
Sitting down to my first Berlinale film, a French film TOMBOY, I realise that I actually know nothing about the film. To be honest I just went along because the only other film playing was for the opening ceremony with TRUE GRIT and I doubt I would of been able to get in and squeeze between Mr Jeff Bridges and the Ceons. But, know what, I’m so happy that I ventured in and watch the film as it has rocketed to my favourite film of the year so far. I know, it’s a tad early to make that sort of statement, not just as it’s the first day of the festival but it’s only February. But I stand by it.
TOMBOY is the opening film for the 26th Panarama section of the Berlinale festival and most likely a shoe in for winning film. It stars, Zoe Herran, a 10 year old French girl named Laure that wishes she was born a boy. She and her family, a 6 year old sister, her every busy but always there for her father and a heavily pregnant mother. They move around a lot and Laure doesn’t have many, if any, friends so spends a large amount of time with her loving sister. In her new apartment building Laure wonders the complex and bumps into Lisa, seemingly the buildings only other girl, who, with Laure’s boy length hair and attire assumes she is a boy and Laure doesn’t disappoint, announcing her name as Miekal. Once the newly named Miekal is excepted by the rest of the lads Laure feels happy and content. Of course there are many problems that rear their ugly heads causing more and more complications for Laure/Miekal whether it’s peeing with the rest of the boys, going swimming and having to manufacture a willy to dealing with the ever increasing advances of Lisa. Eventually the truth comes out but in the end maybe that isn’t so bad.
This is the second, directorial, feature from French filmmaker, Céline Sciamma, whose previous work, WATER LILLIES, also deals with growing up and sexually identity, masterfully and beautifully depicts the innocence and awkwardness of childhood. With a cast that is predominately made up of 6 to 10 year olds it must of taken every ounce of patience to complete the production. The film is dripping with memories of those golden summers where you’d spend all day having hay fights, before the hormones kicked you in the nuts.
The lead in Zoe Herren is subtle and heartfelt. Every mannerism and possible smirks to playing big brother/sister to her sibling is touching and real, rarely found in most child actors since today, I’m looking at you boy from HEREAFTER. You could easily be forgiven if you did indeed think Herren was a boy especially when she is finally dressed in a dress as it just looks completely wrong. Her baby sister is thoroughly delightful adding a great amount of humour t the film, and not the stupid kind or the sort seen in the Funny Or Die skits with Pearl, but a the sort that is charming and you could totally see a child doing or saying, such as when she asks Laure to draw a watch on her so she’ll know what time her sister is coming back, or when she finds out Laure’s secret and promises not to open her mouth, she then spends the dinner with her mouth completely shut.
The other characters in the film don’t get much of a chance except that of Lisa, the love interest. Since her sole role is that of a romantic interest for the main character she is somewhat one dimensional and because of this does come off as a predator looking to take down its prey. You start to think while watching the scenes with Lisa that she might of gone through every other boy in the building. However it does not water down the budding romance between her and Laure or the ending either, which I’m not going to spoil.
The film did have a few moments which made me feel uneasy, most probably due to me coming from the land of the Daily Mail, as Laure does appear fully naked in the film and there is a point where I felt that someone was going to jump out, pointing at me shout PEDO!!! for watching the film. But that’s just normal if you live in the UK where your born uptight.
There isn’t a bad thing I can say about the film as it’s near perfect with it’s incredible storytelling, acting, cinematography, music (what little there is of it) and subject matter that is contemporary, challenging and completely honest to growing up.
TOMBOY is out in France in April 2011 and it will be a shame if it isn’t snapped up by a UK distributor at the European Film Market happening down the road.
The film is a charm, filled with great moments which will make you laugh or/and well up.
