Tomboy (2011)

97% of critics liked it
(58 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(4,140 ratings)

A French family with two daughters, 10-year-old Laure and 6-year-old Jeanne, moves to a new neighborhood during the summer holidays. With her Jean Seberg haircut and tomboy ways, Laure is immediately mistaken for a boy by the local kids and passes herself off as Michael. Filmmaker Céline Sciamma… More A French family with two daughters, 10-year-old Laure and 6-year-old Jeanne, moves to a new neighborhood during the summer holidays. With her Jean Seberg haircut and tomboy ways, Laure is immediately mistaken for a boy by the local kids and passes herself off as Michael. Filmmaker Céline Sciamma brings a light and charming touch to this drama of childhood gender confusion. Zoe Heran as Laure/Michael and Malonn Levanna as Jeanne are nothing less than brilliant. This is a relationship movie: relationships between children, and the even more complicated one between one's heart and body. -- (C) Rocket Releasing

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Céline Sciamma
Written By: Céline Sciamma
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Nov 16, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Jun 5, 2012
Studio: Dada Films

Critic Reviews

Jon Frosch, The Atlantic
Brisk, precisely observed, and bracingly non-preachy in its examination of a very tricky subject.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Modestly conceived and executed.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Tomboy" is tender and affectionate.
John DeFore, Washington Post
Sciamma pictures the story in dappled sunlight and wooded fields that, though not far from dull apartment blocks, have an out-of-time seductiveness.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Open-minded and open-ended, Tomboy is a portrait of pubescence on the brink of chrysalis.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
There are nevertheless some marvelous moments.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
'Tomboy' makes its points about gender identity and confusion without resorting to cheap laughs or overwrought drama.
Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies (Australia)
This exquisite film is as pure as you can get; it's observational, it's minimalist, there's no intrusive music except where it is part of the action.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
Sweet and well observed, the film takes us inside a typical family in a typical Paris suburb - and gives us a spin
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
Sciamma's capturing of children at play is disarmingly accurate, perfectly showing the freewheeling nature of prepubescence in all its glory.
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Writer and director Celine Sciamma adorns the thorny dilemma with resonant allusions to gender roles...
Brian Tallerico, HollywoodChicago.com
The film's greatest accomplishment is writer/director Celine Sciamma's stunning ability to draw natural, believable performances from her adolescent cast, who never hit a false note in this moving film.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
"Tomboy," a brief and sweetly refreshing French film, is the story of a lie.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
"Tomboy" is so specific and intuitive that I kept thinking, "How do the filmmakers know this stuff?"
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Tomboy captures a delicate moment in time before issues of sexuality so much more complicated and calculated.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
As the sisters come to see that dresses and haircuts and behaviors are a means to create a self, to communicate with others, Tomboy doesn't offer an easy answer; instead, it lets you wonder why gender must be so definitive.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a well-intentioned yet hopelessly inert piece of work.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
Tomboy is a charming film about childhood and identity.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Carlos M

An honest drama that raises some interesting questions about sexual identity and why genders are supposed to be important. Sciamma directs her film with simplicity, using a naturalistic direction to approach this delicate subject, observing the characters and leaving an appropriate… More
An honest drama that raises some interesting questions about sexual identity and why genders are supposed to be important. Sciamma directs her film with simplicity, using a naturalistic direction to approach this delicate subject, observing the characters and leaving an appropriate open ending.
Walter M

In "Tomboy," 10-year old Laure(Zoe Heran) moves to a new neighborhood with her parents(Sophie Cattani & Mathieu Demy) and younger sister Jeanne(Malonn Levana). While looking out from an apartment window one pleasant afternoon, Laure sees a group of boys playing out in… More
In "Tomboy," 10-year old Laure(Zoe Heran) moves to a new neighborhood with her parents(Sophie Cattani & Mathieu Demy) and younger sister Jeanne(Malonn Levana). While looking out from an apartment window one pleasant afternoon, Laure sees a group of boys playing out in the park. When she finally leaves her sister and sleeping, very, very pregnant mother behind in the apartment, the boys are gone, with only Lisa(Jeanne Disson), a girl of her age, left behind in their wake. Laure introduces herself as Mikael and they run after them together, so they can join in the fun. With that simple, elegant setup, writer-director Celine Sciamma tells an evocative and naturalistic genderblender with a very belieable sibling relationship. Sadly, the movie eventually runs straight into a narrative wall. Until then, Laure is not just being a tomboy; she is passing as a boy but not 24/7, so we'll keep to the feminine pronouns.(Actually, it is not until later that she is revealed not to be a boy.) She does this to enjoy the freedoms that boys enjoy but is too young to realize the minefield of gender that she has just walked into. That's where parents come in, as the movie smartly shows how parents help to shape their children's gender.
August S

Truly honest, believably acted, and poignant drama about finding yourself in the midst of the people around you. A truly marvelous film for the open minded.
Daisy M

Tomboy was a powerful French film of director Celine Sciamma , which brought a good character study of a 10 year old girl. Played by Zoé Héran, she was Laura who moved into a new town and introduced herself as a boy. The film created a moving portrait of a lonely girl longing for… More
Tomboy was a powerful French film of director Celine Sciamma , which brought a good character study of a 10 year old girl. Played by Zoé Héran, she was Laura who moved into a new town and introduced herself as a boy. The film created a moving portrait of a lonely girl longing for acceptance, being very quiet, mostly observations she did, as she adapted herself to her new world. She maintained being the boy only to make friends but then it draw her in nothing else then complications. It think it was difficult to capture the simple, honest, and often cruel world of children, but Sciamma showed a natural ability to come with perfect dialogue and she directed these children so well that it all came to perfection.Obviously things won't end well, but when Mikael was finally discovered it was refreshingly believable,showing that people could get hurt, and it was painful to watch when it comes to children.But still it ended with a hopeful note. It's an uplifting, and such powerful film.