|
The Hedgehog
| Released |
2 September 2011 |
| Director |
Mona Achache |
Starring
|
Garance Le Guillermic, Josiane Balasko, Togo Igawa |
| Writer(s) |
Mona Achache |
Producer(s)
|
Mark Lombardo,
Anne-Dominique Toussaint |
| Origin |
France, Italy |
| Running Time |
100 minutes |
| Genre |
Comedy, drama |
| Rating |
TBC |
|
|
Prickly but charming.
For an eleven-year-old girl, Paloma (Garance Le Guillermic) has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Despite living a seemingly idyllic life in a luxury apartment in Paris, Paloma despairs at the hypocrisy of her middle-class life. Her mother is addicted to prescription drugs, champagne and psychotherapy. Her politician father is distant and her older sister is vain and obsessed with her boyfriend. So to escape this life “in the goldfish bowl” Paloma decides that on her twelfth birthday, she will kill herself!
Using her father’s old camcorder, she decides to make a film about her life as a suicide note. She initially focuses on her family but soon she is drawn to her new Japanese neighbour Kakuro (Togo Igawa). He’s a retired widower and she is fascinated by his culture. Kakuro is himself fascinated by the building’s middle-aged, frumpy janitor Renée (Josiane Balasko). Outwardly Renée is terse and curt when dealing with the tenants. However both Paloma and Kakuro suspect there is far more to her than meets the eye and that she is prickly only on the outside but civilised on the inside like a hedgehog. Paloma becomes friendly with Renée and enjoys spending time with her more than with her family. She also becomes fascinated with the burgeoning romance between Renée and Kakuro. However she still persists with planning her suicide.
Based on Muriel Barbery’s best-selling novel L'élégance du hérisson (The Elegance of the Hedgehog) this is a surprisingly sweet film considering the dark subject matter. Not a huge amount happens in truth but the characters are very engaging and the performances are excellent.
Josiane Balasko made a big impression in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with films like French Twist and Trop Belle Pour Toi, but she’s been rather quiet since then. This is a terrific return to form for her though as she slowly reveals Renée’s hidden layers. Veteran Japanese actor Togo Igawa brings great dignity to the role of Kakuro, even if the character is bit too good to be true. Best of all though is Garance Le Guillermic as Paloma, who’s hilarious despite playing the role absolutely straight.
There is a twist at the end that is genuinely jolting but this is still a wonderfully life-affirming film that fans of Amélie should enjoy.
-
Jim O’Connor |
