*******This review may contain spoilers*******
Beautifully shot with powerful performances.
I've read critics relating this movie to Boyhood, and yet to other coming of age movies. First, there is nothing like Boyhood in cinema history, and the movies do not share a similar storytelling path or shooting techniques. Second, this movie's focus is not solely the maturing of a female adolescent. Third,the English language release title may have lead people to compare both movies. However, this film's original name is "Bande de Filles" which does not stands for Girlhood. It stands for Band of Girls.
The "directrice" Céline Sciamma, known for Tomboy (2011), continues her sensitive depicting of one's reality. Again, with a primary focus in the gender subject, she reaches for the main character's difficulties in a highly inhospitable environment and the dreams and wishes of any young woman.
The family hardships and the obligations towards the younger siblings, the constant constraint from her brother's violent language, the absence of a present mother and the everyday chauvinism contrast with the loving relationship developed with her friends. That is what this movie is about. The Band of Girls, who although are violent, do have sensibility, do have dreams, and suffer for not being able to fully achieve them.
The great achievement of this movie is to depict all of this in a very sensitive, realistic, and touching way, what would not be possible without the remarkable performances, specially by Karidja Touré.
Beautifully shot with powerful performances.
I've read critics relating this movie to Boyhood, and yet to other coming of age movies. First, there is nothing like Boyhood in cinema history, and the movies do not share a similar storytelling path or shooting techniques. Second, this movie's focus is not solely the maturing of a female adolescent. Third,the English language release title may have lead people to compare both movies. However, this film's original name is "Bande de Filles" which does not stands for Girlhood. It stands for Band of Girls.
The "directrice" Céline Sciamma, known for Tomboy (2011), continues her sensitive depicting of one's reality. Again, with a primary focus in the gender subject, she reaches for the main character's difficulties in a highly inhospitable environment and the dreams and wishes of any young woman.
The family hardships and the obligations towards the younger siblings, the constant constraint from her brother's violent language, the absence of a present mother and the everyday chauvinism contrast with the loving relationship developed with her friends. That is what this movie is about. The Band of Girls, who although are violent, do have sensibility, do have dreams, and suffer for not being able to fully achieve them.
The great achievement of this movie is to depict all of this in a very sensitive, realistic, and touching way, what would not be possible without the remarkable performances, specially by Karidja Touré.