This intimate, quietly haunting film about a young girl’s desperate wish to be noticed by her parents has a sombre but crushingly universal tone.
It’s told firmly from six-year-old Cathy’s viewpoint (director Olivier Ringer’s own daughter Wynona), with her internal monologue revealing the minutiae of her life. Travelling from Paris to the countryside every weekend, but not being allowed to participate in anything fun, Cathy longs for company. So, one day she decides to live in the woods and go it alone, fearing the punishment she'll receive if her parents find her.
Opening with a static shot of Cathy as she sits in the back of her parents’ car, many of Cathy’s observations will be familiar to anyone who’s been on a long car journey as a child. Much of the intrigue initially comes from observing the disparity between what Cathy thinks is happening and the reality from an adult point of view. But crucially, Cathy’s situation isn’t all her own making—her parents really do ignore her. And while many will have experienced something similar in their childhoods, few will have taken Cathy’s extreme actions.
This is a small film in many ways, but it features a confident, nuanced performance from its star. Wynona Ringer perfectly conveys Cathy’s loneliness and determination, with a script that has a deep understanding of what it feels like to be a child. Carefully directed by Olivier Ringer, with well observed humour, this is a delightful and fascinating film.
[etRating value=“ 4”]
