Genre:
Drama
Theatrical Release: 03/07/2001(France),
Release Date: 10/19/2004
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: French
Sound: DD5.1/DTS/2
Run Time: 86 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Not For Children
Distributor/Studio: Criterion
Director
Catherine Breillat, who courted international controversy with her film
Romance, once again pushed the envelope with this disturbing (if somewhat less explicit) look at adolescent sexuality.
Anaïs (
Anaïs Reboux) is a 12-year-old girl with a weight problem and a downbeat disposition growing up in a family which offers her little in the way of understanding and affection.
Anaïs has a typically adolescent love/hate relationship with her slimmer and prettier 15-year-old sister,
Elena (
Roxane Mesquida); she's at once fascinated by her sister (and the boys who follow her around), and hates her for the love and attention she receives from others. While the family spends the summer at the beach,
Elena attracts the attentions of
Fernando (
Libero de Rienzo), a college student from Italy who makes no secret of his attraction to
Elena's budding sexuality.
Anaïs, on the other hand, is forced to make do with a sad game in which she pretends that a ladder and a diving board at a neighborhood swimming pool are two suitors vying for her affections.
Anaïs shares a room with
Elena, and finds herself a fascinated, if troubled, witness as
Fernando uses both charm and deceit to rob her sister of her virginity, while
Elena is too naïve to see through the lies
Fernando is spinning -- and enjoys having
Anaïs as an audience for her steadily advancing sex play with
Fernando.
Anaïs is more aware than her older sister of
Fernando's insincerity, but she finds
Elena isn't eager to believe her.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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