Ajoy from the first frame to the last

Petite Maman (PG, 72 mins) Directed by Celine Sciamma Reviewed by Graeme Tuckett ★★★★★

In French with English subtitles

Nelly is 8 years old. She is with hermumand dad as they travel to a house that was once Nelly’s mother’s childhood home.

Nelly’s grandmother has died and the family have come to spend the week clearing out the last corners of her life, emptying the cupboards and preparing the house to be sold.

Nelly is a bright and inquisitive girl. She asks hermumall sorts of questions about her years growing up in this house, ofwhat happened and of what people were like, ‘‘when they were young’’.

After a few days, Nelly meets another girl while out exploring in the woods near the house. Her name is Marion – the same as Nelly’s mother. And although they