Petite Maman (film)

Acclaimed filmmaker Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Girlhood) returns with her latest treasure, PETITE MAMAN, a sublime modern fairytale about the quiet wonder of mother-daughter relationships. A favourite of the 2021 Berlin Film Festival, this beautifully understated drama returns the director to her preoccupation with coming-of-age stories to typically masterful effect. 

The film tells the story of eight-year-old Nelly’s fantastical journey after the death of her beloved grandmother. While helping her mother clear out her childhood home, Nelly begins to explore the surrounding woodland and encounters a strangely familiar girl her own age. Instantly forming a connection with this mysterious new friend, Nelly embarks on a formative flight of fancy that encourages her to come to terms with this newfound loss. Sciamma’s warm and gently profound new film mixes the intimate with the fantastical with her characteristically delicate touch, weaved together into a tale of childhood, memory and loss that will resonate with audiences young and old.

★★★★★ “An artistic masterstroke… Elegant and very moving” – The Guardian

★★★★★ “An exquisite distillation of Céline Sciamma’s focused and empathetic cinematic style” – The Upcoming

1h 13mins. Rated U. Language: French with English subtitles.

£6 entry price