No. 38 (2022) PETITE MAMAN May 9th.

 

Film No. 38 (2022)  May  9th.  12.50 PM   Cinema 7.  LUNA,  Leederville.

 

"I'm glad we met". (An 8 year old Marion tells Nelly how she feels about their time together, back in the past).

What if an intelligent, thoughtful child, Nelly (Josephine Sanz), aged 8, could be transported back in time (without a puff of smoke) to spend moments with her mother, Marion (Gabrielle Sanz), when she was also aged 8? Well, French director Celine Sciamma explores this idea in the very meditative PETITE MAMAN.

There is no BACK TO THE FUTURE here, or more specifically, no DeLorean in PETITE MAMAN. The gentle journey that Nelly makes to meet Marion takes the form of a walk into the woods that back onto the residence where three generations of Nelly's family have lived. The girls play, they build a house from large branches and keep each other company. Both have spent their childhood alone, with no siblings. Sciamma creates an atmosphere of gentle love in every scene, and not just between the "sisters". A kitchen scene of pancake making is pure fun. 

The adults, Nellie's mother (Nina Meurisse) and father (Stephane Varupenne) in particular, lead the way as caring but grieving parents. Adult Marion disappears to "reflect" after her mother's death, which triggers Nelly's imagination. We then get an intimate view of the love Nelly and her father have for each other. A simple shaving scene says so much.     

If TOMBOY, Sciamma's first major feature, showed how in sync she is with children at thoughtful play, then PETITE Maman will delight. Her films never overstay their welcome. PETITE plays at under 72 mins. Sciamma tests your senses and experiences against those of others. 10GUMS.