You know that there is something wrong with the movie when you can hardly sit through it despite short running time. Thematically it is similar to Sciamma's well received feature debut Water Lilies. (Pre)-adolescent sexuality must be something she is very interested in. Plot is very slow moving and story doesn't tell much. Very anticlimactic ending.

An almost uncomfortable sort of a film, using a 10 year old child to explain the thought of people going through a Gender Identity Crisis. Some of the best child actors in a long time, being able to handle such topics with more maturity than most young adult actors would as seen from the line of recent American films made for the Academy and people who don't want to seem homophobic rather than sympathize and examine the LGBT population.

Zoé Héran is amazing in front of the camera. I don't think I can remember another film that is so up close and intimate with a child actor. And directing this kind of film must be just as big a challenge as directing a blockbuster. The story is fine but the real highlight is the closeness of the camera observing the relationship between the two sisters.

not much happens but its a beautiful movie about gender identity... the child acts much better than most adult actors

Sciamma's Laure/Michael just can't find a place to be herself/himself: at home, he's a daughter and sister; with his new friends, she tries to act like everyone else, playing football, kissing a girl and so on. Sciamma avoids a climax, and shoots a feature of intense, but silent moods, of pain, but also tenderness.

It bothers me in films when kids do things that they surely must know won't end well. Mainly because it confines the plot to a certain necessary conclusion. That said, Tomboy is a wonderful, effective film despite this fact. Should have been longer (I felt a bit shortchanged), but I loved it.

You can really notice that this is made by a woman. Beautiful.

"Francophone cinema knows a thing or two about the erotic possibilities of moving." - Diego Costa

Sciamma uses "Michael"'s anxious tranquillity juxtaposed with her friends' unknowing reaction to great effect. She luckily doesn't shy away from the sporadically encountered yet universally relatable obstacles kids that age might face. Quiet, moving, authentic, features that make up for the film's running time and a couple of underdeveloped characters.

I liked 'Water Lilies' and this is even better. Good casting, great child performances. The story is simple and the film's greatness lies in the small moments between the kids. Highly recommended for those who enjoy coming of age-stories.

I'm all for restraint and the avoidance of over-dramatization of such sensitive topics such as gender identity and confusion but there is such a thing as being given too little. And so I can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed by this thoughtful but sometimes inert drama punctuated by several wonderfully intimate and emotionally stirring moments that hint at the great film this could have been. Watch it for the impressive, naturalistic child performances.

A little gem...