Girlhood
Presented by Main Street Landing and VTIFF
Directed by Céline Sciamma
France | Drama | French w/ English Subtitles | 2014 | 112 min.
Selection: Cannes Film Festival – Opening Night Directors’ Fortnight
Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, AFI Fest
Fed up with her abusive family situation, lack of school prospects and the “boys’ law” in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of three free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her style, drops out of school and starts stealing to be accepted into the gang. When her home situation becomes unbearable, Marieme seeks solace in an older man who promises her money and protection. Realizing this sort of lifestyle will never result in the freedom and independence she truly desires, she finally decides to take matters into her own hands.
Céline Sciamma’s first feature film WATER LILIES attracted attention at the 2007 Cannes Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, and won the Louis Delluc Prize, for Best First film, awarded by French film critics. It was followed in 2011 by TOMBOY, selected for the Berlin Film Festival’s Opening Night film of the Panorama section, where it won the Teddy Award, and subsequently enjoyed a successful international career (selling to 35 territories including the US). GIRLHOOD (Bande de filles) is her third film.