Petite Maman

About Petite Maman

"Petite Maman" is an emotional and intimate 2021 French drama film directed by Céline Sciamma. The storyline of the film is based on a young 8-year-old girl, Nelly, who forms a unique friendship with an unusual girl in the woods, soon realizing that she is actually her mother's younger self.

Making / Production

The film was written and directed by Céline Sciamma. It was produced by Bénédicte Couvreur of Lilies Films with attention to detail that captures the essence of childhood experiences and parental relationships.

Actors

• Joséphine Sanz plays the role of Nelly, the young protagonist of the story, capturing her curiosity, vulnerability, and her delicate connection with her mother's past.
• Gabrielle Sanz is the mysterious young girl in the woods - the younger version of Nelly's mother - Gabrielle denotes the young Marianne with a youthful innocence and wit.
• Nina Meurisse plays as the adult version of Marianne, Nelly's mother. She flawlessly portrayed a woman dealing with her own mother's death while grappling with her own past.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film explores the concept of meeting one's parents as children which is a fresh take on parent-child relationships in films.
• "Petite Maman" was filmed in only 20 days during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Céline Sciamma directed both Joséphine and Gabrielle Sanz, real-life sisters in the lead roles.

Quotes

• "Sometimes, I dream about her: but younger.” - Nelly
• "When I grow up, I want to be a lumberjack." - Young Marianne

Music, Soundtrack

• Despite the beautiful and introspective nature of the film, "Petite Maman" does not contain any traditional soundtrack or score, further highlighting the naturalistic, quiet beauty of the film.

Awards

As of now, "Petite Maman" has not been awarded any specific awards. However, its unique storyline and the performance of the actors were critically acclaimed.