Sun-Soaked Portrayal of a Young Lesbian Muslim: "The Last Little Girl" at Cannes 2025 – School Life and Sunlight in Focus
PARTY TIME FOR FATIMA!
Three, two, one, huzzah for Fatima! With her captivating performance by Nadia Melliti in The Little Sister, a flick directed by Hafsia Herzi that's shaking things up at Cannes this May 16th, you can't help but root for this kickass young Muslim heroine. Amidst the murky seas of homophobia, Fatima sails through life, finding herself torn between her religious practices and her lesbian romps.
But a word of caution—you may find yourself halfway enchanted yet vaguely dissatisfied after this third flick by the actress and director, who burst onto the scene under Abdellatif Kechiche's wing (The Secret of the Grain, 2007). Spanning a full year, the film follows Fatima as she juggles family life (parents, two sisters, and all!), cramming for her baccalaureate, kicking soccer balls, putting on a show for her man, all while appearing less than thrilled. Then, one day, girl power takes over as Fatima signs up on a popular dating app to meet other women...
Adapted from Fatima Daas's debut novel The Last One (2020), The Little Sister finds itself balancing the raw and the mundane. On one hand, it delves fearlessly into the grapevine-tangled world of suburban discomfort— deceitful sisters who badmouth her, or the giddy liberation she experiences in the throbbing heart of the queer capital. One can't help but hear the DJ and a gang of girls shouting, "One, two, three, cheer for lesbians!" This, however, occasionally feels contrived, as if we've entered a groundhog day nightmare.
The Inside Scoop:The film is a touching portrayal of a young Muslim lesbian character grappling with her identity in contemporary Paris. However, critics have noted that the character development leans heavily on Fatima's role as a queer Muslim, sometimes overshadowing her individual qualities. The film's visual and atmospheric storytelling is commendable but falls short in conveying the depth of Fatima's emotional struggles. Meanwhile, the film employs a seasonal structure, reminiscent of Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring, which both strengthens and weakens the narrative. Finally, some critics accuse the film of leaning on familiar narrative beats and clichés, diluting the potency of its message.
- Fatima's captivating performance and the film, 'The Little Sister,' have sparked a conversation in the realms of fashion-and-beauty and entertainment, making a significant impact in pop-culture.
- For those with an inclination towards personal-growth, books like Fatima Daas's 'The Last One' and critical analyses of 'The Little Sister' provide insights into social-media trends and the lifestyle of contemporary young Muslims.
- Education-and-self-development platforms could benefit from in-depth discussions about 'The Little Sister,' exploring its themes of identity, cultural diversity, and the challenges faced by Fatima, a Muslim lesbian.
- The movie's journey deepens the sci-fi-and-fantasy enthusiast's understanding of modern French society, offering a much-needed representation within the entertainment industry.
- The literary and cinematic portrayal of Fatima's story has sparked debates across movie-and-tv forums, further enhancing the discourse on representation in fashion-and-beauty, books, lifestyle, and pop-culture.
