Girlhood

In the tough suburbs of Paris, sixteen-year-old Marieme decides to reinvent herself when she joins a girl gang.

In the tough suburbs of Paris, sixteen-year-old Marieme decides to reinvent herself when she joins a girl gang. Excluded from school and in fear of her overbearing brother at home, Marieme changes her name and appearance and escapes into a new, liberating world outside of society’s conventions.

Playing out much like a female version of the classic banlieue drama La Haine (1995), the third film from writer-director Céline Sciamma (Water Lilies, Tomboy) sees her returning to issues of identity and what it means to be black, female or even just a teenager. The result is an authentic, affecting drama that will resonate with viewers of any background. Girlhood played in Official Competition at the 2014 BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express.