Girlhood

Céline Sciamma's film, set in the Paris suburbs. Marieme is sixteen. Her way is closed at school, she is under her brother's control at home, and her options narrow everywhere. Then she meets a group of three girls. The group gives her something: the right to take up space in the street. Marieme changes her name, changes her clothes, changes how she speaks, and with each change becomes someone else. The structure is built on those transformations; the narrative divides into sections and in each one Marieme tries another identity. The most cited scene takes place in a hotel room: four girls in stolen dresses sing along to a pop song. It runs about four minutes without a cut, and the film's whole idea of freedom sits there. Most of the cast are not professionals and were found in the street. Karidja Touré plays Marieme. The original title refers to a gang of girls; the English title was criticised for appearing to claim kinship with another film. A strong work for anyone who likes French cinema and portraits of adolescence. For a viewer expecting a story of escape, the film guarantees no way out and does not shy from showing how few the options really are.