PETITE MAMAN

Céline Sciamma continues to prove herself as one of the most accomplished and unpredictable contemporary French filmmakers with her follow up to her acclaimed film, Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Her latest film, Petite Maman is very different in both subject and tone, but equally captivating. Following the death of her beloved grandmother, 8-year-old Nelly accompanies her parents to her mother’s childhood home to begin the difficult process of cleaning out its contents. While her mother is busy with the tasks at hand, Nelly sets out to explore the house and nearby woods, where she is immediately drawn to a neighbor her own age building a treehouse. The young girl bears a striking resemblance to Nelly. The two girls quickly form a tight bond as the past and present begin to merge. What follows is a tender coming-of-age tale of childhood grief, memory and intergenerational connection. At 72 minutes, this is a small but revelatory gem of a film.