Girlhood

Name: Girlhood
Genre: Drama
Released: January 30, 2015
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Assa Sylla, Diabate Idrissa, Karidja Touré, Lindsay Karamoh, Marietou Toure

2015

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Ratings

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Girlhood

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Movie Details & Credits

Strand Releasing | Release Date: January 30, 2015 | Not Rated

Starring: Assa Sylla, Diabate Idrissa, Karidja Touré, Lindsay Karamoh, Marietou Toure

Summary: Fed up with her abusive family situation, lack of school prospects and the “boys’ law” in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of three free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her style, drops out of school and starts stealing to be accepted into the gang. When her home situation becomes unbearable, MariemeFed up with her abusive family situation, lack of school prospects and the “boys’ law” in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of three free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her style, drops out of school and starts stealing to be accepted into the gang. When her home situation becomes unbearable, Marieme seeks solace in an older man who promises her money and protection. Realizing this sort of lifestyle will never result in the freedom and independence she truly desires, she finally decides to take matters into her own hands. [Strand Releasing]… Expand

Director: Céline Sciamma

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

100

David Rooney

May 26, 2014

Where many filmmakers would have underlined the bleaker, harsher aspects, Girlhood presents the characters' grim reality without surrendering its lightness of touch, its compassion or its hope. Read full review

100

Alan Scherstuhl

Jan 27, 2015

Raw and insistent, bold and brawling, Girlhood throbs with the global now, illustrating the ways an indifferent society boxes in the people who grow up in project-style boxes. Read full review

100

Ty Burr

May 7, 2015

The movie captures that heady adolescent sense of time stopping and the moment mattering while standing far enough back to let us acknowledge all the pitfalls Marieme is moving too fast to see. Read full review

Jesse Hassenger

Jan 28, 2015

"Boyhood" has the natural endpoint of its lead growing into a young adult, while Girlhood stretches out in front of Marieme, an uncertain path into a haze. Read full review

Kate Stables

May 5, 2015

It’s great to see a gritty girl-gang story that’s not a fingerwagging cautionary tale, or a grrrlpower fantasy. Sciamma finishes her coming-of-age trilogy on a high note. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Feb 26, 2015

Girlhood is a mesmerizing exercise in the enlightenment that can happen when a filmmaker shifts the male cinematic gaze ever so slightly and uncovers what looks like a whole new world. Read full review

James Lattimer

Jan 25, 2015

Girlhood is so keyed to the minutiae of its teenage protagonists' lives, it's as if the film can't stop itself from behaving like they do. Read full review

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User Reviews

Eon2323

Jul 21, 2015

What an amazing and fresh take of a coming-of-age story set in the suburbs of France with a mostly all-black cast. What I find the most incredible was the strong acting in this film considering the fact that just about all of the cast was discovered off the street. Cinematography wasWhat an amazing and fresh take of a coming-of-age story set in the suburbs of France with a mostly all-black cast. What I find the most incredible was the strong acting in this film considering the fact that just about all of the cast was discovered off the street. Cinematography was beautiful as was the soundtrack; moreover, watching this gives you a new found appreciation for Rihanna's "Diamonds". Not much more should (or could) be changed about this.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Christopher_G2

Jul 27, 2017

"Girlhood" is a French film by director Céline Sciamma about the coming of age of black girl in Paris under tough circumstances, and decides to go in a more sinister direction with a new group of friends, and she has to prove herself, but there are family complications, and a romance is"Girlhood" is a French film by director Céline Sciamma about the coming of age of black girl in Paris under tough circumstances, and decides to go in a more sinister direction with a new group of friends, and she has to prove herself, but there are family complications, and a romance is involved too. Yes we've seen movies like this before; this film, unlike "Boyhood", won't be talked about as some kind of cinema revolution in decades to come (the two films really are so different they shouldn't be readily compared, though they have similar titles, came out at close to the same time, and deal with the experience of youth). But that's perfectly fine, because the craft is exceptional. The story is interesting the way it builds, the acting is great, particularly by Karidja Touré in the lead as she physically transforms once, and then again completely believably. And what's more, this has the most memorable use of an American pop song in a foreign film I have seen in a very long time. Just great.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

pijgogo

Oct 9, 2020

Highly recommended, gorgeous, intelligent film highlighting the beauty of friendship among young women. Few directors capture this camaraderie as something that not only grounds them, but also allows them to escape. The scene with Rihanna’s “Diamonds” song might forever be the mostHighly recommended, gorgeous, intelligent film highlighting the beauty of friendship among young women. Few directors capture this camaraderie as something that not only grounds them, but also allows them to escape. The scene with Rihanna’s “Diamonds” song might forever be the most wonderful representation of what it feels like to be included and accepted by one’s girlfriends. That is the magic that memories are made of, and by god was it beautiful here.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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