Critically acclaimed French drama about a 10-year-old girl who assumes a male identity to fit in when her family move...
Critically acclaimed French drama about a 10-year-old girl who assumes a male identity to fit in when her family move to a small village. The film has won numerous awards at Gay and Lesbian film festivals around the world.
"Confirming the talent shown in her debut Water Lilies, Céline Sciamma explores children’s notions of gender and identity. 10-year-old Laure and her family have just moved to a new neighbourhood. Her mother is heavily pregnant with a third child, a baby brother for Laure and little sister Jeanne. Androgynous Laure hovers between childhood and something else, still romping around at home with giggly Jeanne in her thrall, but also keen to strike out on her own and enjoy what’s left of the summer holidays. When Lisa, a next-door neighbour Laure’s age, asks Laure her name, she forthrightly responds ‘Michaël’. Soon Michaël, barechested and bold, is playing soccer with the local boys. However, trying out boys’ stuff requires deception that Laure will have difficulty maintaining." (Source: NZ International Film Festival 2011)
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96 %73 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® rating
83 %8,372 reviewsAudience score rating
"Tomboy astutely explores the freedom, however brief, of being untethered to the highly rule-bound world of gender codes."
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Village Voice
Village Voice"A sensitive study of pre-teen sexuality and confused gender roles, from a director who knows how to draw flawless turns from young ‘uns."
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Total Film
Total Film"The story that emerges is programmatic and largely unsurprising, but these children give it messiness, joy and life."
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The New York Times
The New York Times"The sense of a long, hot, unending summer is well caught, the children are excellent and Zoé Heran is wonderfully natural and touching."
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The Guardian
The Guardian"Goes places an American filmmaker probably wouldn’t in her exploration of kids’ secret worlds."
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New York Post
New York Post"Stands out as an especially affecting delicacy about the thrills and pitfalls of exploring who one is."
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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times"Coming-of-age tale tackles gender confusion with humor and heart."
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Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood Reporter"A beautiful, matter-of-fact French drama."
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Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly"A tender, sensitive French drama rich in hazy atmosphere."
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Empire Magazine
Empire Magazine"A lovely, delicate little story."
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A.V. Club
A.V. ClubTomboy | Details
Award winner- Best Film with LGBT Themes at Berlin Film Festival, 2011. Golden Duke winner at the 2011 Odessa International Film Festival. Audience Award winner at San Fransisco Frameline Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Best Feature Film at Philadelphia QFest Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2011.
- Rating
- M,
- Runtime
- 84
- Genre
- Drama
- Country of origin
- France
