I must have heard about this film (translated "Little Mother") or watched the Mark Kermode review during its release, it was rated five out of five stars by the Radio Times, hearing more about it and seeing images from it certainly intrigued me more as well, written and directed by Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire). Basically, the maternal grandmother of eight-year-old Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) has died. Her mother Marion (Nina Meurisse) and her father (Stéphane Varupenne) travel to Marion's childhood home to empty it out. Nelly's mother is deeply upset by the loss and leaves during the night without saying goodbye to her daughter. One day, Nelly goes out into the woods to play. There, she finds a girl her own age (Gabrielle Sanz) building a shelter in the trees. The girl, named Marion, is friendly and invites Nelly to help her with the construction. When it starts raining, Marion takes Nelly to her home. Nelly tells Marion that she is visiting following the death of her grandmother. Marion tells her that her own grandmother, also named Nelly, died recently. Going through the house, Nelly realises that it is her grandmother's house and Marion is her mother. She leaves feeling alarmed and is relieved to return to the house and find her father in the present. Nelly returns to the woods again and encounters her mother as a girl again. They continue building the shelter. Nelly learns that they are the same age, and Marion says that will be having an operation in three days to prevent the same developing illness as her mother. Returning to the woods continuously, Nelly spends time with her younger grandmother (Margot Abascal) and learns things about her mother, including her ambitions to be an actress. The day before they are meant to leave, Nelly reveals to Marion that she is her daughter and has come from the future. To prove it, she brings Marion to her grandmother's house where she reveals to Marion that her mother will die when Marion turns 31 and that Nelly loved her deeply. The two are interrupted by Nelly's father, who intends for them to return home in time for her mother's birthday. Marion asks Nelly to sleep over and Nelly convinces her father to let her stay an extra night so she can spend more time with Marion. Nelly and Marion celebrate Marion's ninth birthday during the sleepover. The following morning, Marion prepares to go to the hospital. Nelly reassures her the operation will be fine. She also reveals that her mother is often sad and questions if it is because of her. Marion reassures her that she does not think this is true. The two have a hug before Marion leaves for the hospital. Returning to her grandmother's house, Nelly is surprised by her mother who has returned. The two of them cuddle as they say each other's names. The Sanz sisters, the young leading identical twins, give good natural performances, the story from the point of view of a child is simple but effective, the time travel plot is understated but smart, and it certainly tugs at the right emotional strings, a sweet and worthwhile fantasy drama. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. Very good!
Review of Petite Maman
