Tomboy

Sciamma uses "Michael"'s anxious tranquillity juxtaposed with her friends' unsuspecting behaviour 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.

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.

Gender is weird, isn't it? People twist themselves into knots trying to define it rather than just letting it be. I do wonder if we need yet another traumatizing story related to trans issues, but perhaps that final scene is hopeful?

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.

The story is about a little girl that looks and acts like a little boy. Taking a boys name after moving to a new neighborhood and having fun the the guys, and kissing a girl. This story is very slow, and ultimately doesn't really go anywhere. She is soon outed by her mother, with the expected fall out. The movie is just too simple and tells only part of the story. I liked what was there, but where is the rest of it?

I'm quite interested in issues of gender as well as child development, so I was pretty keen to watch this. It was pretty good. Rather quiet and contemplative. I thought the performance from the lead actress was very realistic and quite brave. The other children in the film felt very naturalistic too. This feeling was also backed up by the direction. On the other hand, it did all feel a bit underwhelming as the melodrama was very minimal. I thought it was a nice little film overall.

Good child actors.

Both of Sciamma's films come around at a certain point, grow on me, and make me reconsider previous negative considerations to the material. I'm still not sure if this is indicative of something missing in her work or myself.

Viewed May 15, 2020.

What a wonderful little movie. It needs only 82 minutes to touch on some very thorny issues, and does this in a way that's both natural and engaging. The central performance of Zoé Héran is incredible, and different people might actually come away from Tomboy thinking different things, which is difficult to achieve in what is essentially an issue-movie. Yet Tomboy is also more than that. You'll want to talk about it when it's over. And you'll wish that the main character turns out alright.

The whole time I was waiting for something awful to happen, but this is different from other films on this theme.

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

https://esperwatchesfilms.tumblr.com/post/641838559406555136/tomboy-2011

some scenes exist only to flirt with the possibility of revealing to the characters the twist we're already privy to, cheaply amping up the tension/relief. whole thing is a little cute in fact, although solid; mostly i'm won over by these fantastic child 'performances' -- hard to tell if most of them are acting or merely being. also: omfg, how are so many film critics this sloppy with trans- terminology, even at supposedly enlightened publications? he isn't ambiguous about being a he.

It had a lot of well-thought-out and meaningful moments, but unfortunately it was not quite my type of movie. I did not enjoy Portrait of a Lady on Fire that much either, so probably the problem is on me, not on this movie.

ger; [tomboy]; ein Mädchen zieht mit ihren Eltern um und stellt sich als michael den anderen kindern vor, doch sich als junge auszugeben birgt einige Herausforderungen.;

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.

8????????????????????2018????????????????????????????????????/????????????????????????????????????

Enjoyable slice-of-life film that sometimes feels like a documentary. Sure, it raises questions about gender identity, but I saw it as a simple story about trying to fit in, in a "coming of age"-type of way. Impressive that the long, silent takes say so much.

Tomboy estreava há 10 anos na França. A naturalidade em que Sciamma conduz o filme sem transformar situações por si só traumáticas num dramalhão é tão soberba e sensível que não tem nada que não seja admirável nas suas escolhas, especialmente a Zoé Héran como protagonista. BlurayRip no MakingOff.

A powerful and moving depection of a young child grappling with who he/she is.While this is ostensibly about gender roles I felt that this had a more universal message about the struggle most children of this age find in figuring out who they are and where they fit into the society around them.The performances by the children are outstanding particualry the relationship between Laure and his sister Jeanne which came off as realistic and loving.

A little gem...

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

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.

Superb child acting and a reasonably interesting story told in a very subdued manner, but I can't help but think of this as Boys Don't Cry Light. It really doesn't do anything that that movie doesn't do better. The minimal approach works for the most part to make things seem realistic, but a tinge more emotion wouldn't have hurt. And maybe I'm prudish, but the child nudity was disconcerting.

Tedious until the the little sister got involved in the deception. And for her age the little sister was astonishing in her performance.

I can't think of any director working right now who does as much as Sciamma does with the idea of the physical body as something we project ideas upon; the way things are ex- and internalised in what's essentially a machine of muscles and bone. Héran is incredible, and the script wisely never gives an answer, no why - just the how. "Je m'appelle" - "I am called."

This was good. I think for the people who can connect with gender issues, it's a very sad and touching tale.

Intelligent and sweet presentation of thoughtful subject matter. Some of the best child performances I've seen: tender and adorable.

A a girl has to behave like a boy for her sister... has to behave like a girl in school... has to behave like a boy to play football, to swim... have to behave like a girl when at home...

Sciamma's work with children is just wonderful. These performances are quiet but sincere. The sister relationship here I found very moving. Really impressive.