I saw this film in Paris in 2008, and it was in my top two or three for the year. It tells the story of Stella, a girl who is on the cusp of adolescence, trying to navigate the difficult path we all must travel during this time.
Stella does not have the best guidance from her parents and, in reality, has to figure out a lot of things on her own: how to cope in school, with friends, with boys, with adults.
The movie has so many poignant scenes, but for me, none is as moving as the very last one. I will not give it away, but the last line, in my opinion, sums up the writer/director's viewpoint on this period of our lives in a simple and beautiful way. I wasn't the only one with tears in my eyes in the theater.
Stella narrates the film, and her voice is a powerful one. The actress who portrays her is absolutely amazing: so real, so unaffected. No "Hollywood" types in this movie. It all feels gritty and genuine. It is filmed with a sense of up-close and personal realism that is refreshing.
I have not seen a version with subtitles, so I can't comment on that aspect, and I don't know if this movie is going to be released widely in the U.S. (I have seen it playing selectively in NYC.) But if you have a chance to see it, run to the theater or rent it on DVD. It is one of the few films I have seen in recent years that has really stayed with me.
Stella does not have the best guidance from her parents and, in reality, has to figure out a lot of things on her own: how to cope in school, with friends, with boys, with adults.
The movie has so many poignant scenes, but for me, none is as moving as the very last one. I will not give it away, but the last line, in my opinion, sums up the writer/director's viewpoint on this period of our lives in a simple and beautiful way. I wasn't the only one with tears in my eyes in the theater.
Stella narrates the film, and her voice is a powerful one. The actress who portrays her is absolutely amazing: so real, so unaffected. No "Hollywood" types in this movie. It all feels gritty and genuine. It is filmed with a sense of up-close and personal realism that is refreshing.
I have not seen a version with subtitles, so I can't comment on that aspect, and I don't know if this movie is going to be released widely in the U.S. (I have seen it playing selectively in NYC.) But if you have a chance to see it, run to the theater or rent it on DVD. It is one of the few films I have seen in recent years that has really stayed with me.