15-year-old Marie (Pauline Acquart) starts spending time with a girl on the synchronized swimming team, Floriane (Adèle Haenel), who has a certain reputation. Céline Sciamma’s directing debut also introduces us to a third teenage girl, Anne (Louise Blachère), who’s not tomboyish like Marie or traditionally pretty like Floriane, but has a crush on a boy who’s desperately trying to sleep with Floriane. The game between these characters, involving sexual curiosity and awkwardness, is naked and unpredictable, with convincingly immature elements. Haenel is a standout as the thoughtless Floriane.
2007-France. 85 min. Color. Written and directed by Céline Sciamma. Cast: Pauline Acquart (Marie), Louise Blachère (Anne), Adèle Haenel (Floriane), Warren Jacquin.
Trivia: Original title: Naissance des pieuvres.