Girlhood (Bande de filles)
Screening of Céline Sciamma’s coming-of-age drama Girlhood (Bande de filles), 2014, with English subtitles
(Bande de filles) Dir Céline Sciamma FR 2014 113 mins French w Eng ST Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh
Struggling with an oppressive family situation and facing up to dead-end education and employment prospects, teenager Marieme is tempted to start a new life after meeting a group of free-spirited girls outside of school. Marieme changes her name, her style and quits school in order to gain acceptance into the gang, hoping that her new friends offer a path to independence and freedom. But as she falls deeper into the gang lifestyle, Marieme is faced with stark choices that could impact her life forever.
An intimate portrait of female friendship and a compelling coming-of-age story, Girlhood is the film that cemented Céline Sciamma’s status in the international filmmaking community.