Early this evening, M and I hit the AMC to see Céline Sciamma's (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) latest film, Petite Maman, which finally hit American theaters nearly a year after it was first released in France.
Clocking in at a brisk 72 minutes, Petite Maman is a wonderful little exploration of parent-child relationships. 8-year-old Nelly's grandmother has just passed away, and Nelly is helping her parents clean out the house where her mom grew up. In the woods nearby, Nelly makes a new friend -- Marion, a young girl, also 8. Marion just so happens to be Nelly's mom's name, and she just happens to live in the very house that they are cleaning out...
The many scenes of Nelly and young Marion (played by real-life sisters) playing together sparkle with joy, and although the story plays with themes of grief, loneliness, and depression, it's an altogether heartwarming experience. I don't have any kids, but one of the things that the movie puts front and center, is a need for parents to share their humanity with their children. Remember what it was really like to be a kid. Tell stories with as much color as you can about your own childhood. Build bridges of trust and understanding. Your children aren't your equals, but that doesn't mean you always have to resort to preaching and teaching.
