Blame it on Fidel (2006)
"La faute à Fidel!" (original title)

A 9-year-old girl weathers big changes in her household as her parents become radical political activists in 1970-71 Paris.

Director:

Julie Gavras

Writers:

Domitilla Calamai (novel), Arnaud Cathrine (collaboration),

Stars:

Nina Kervel-Bey, Julie Depardieu, Stefano Accorsi

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nina Kervel-Bey	...	Anna de la Mesa
Julie Depardieu	...	Marie de la Mesa
Stefano Accorsi	...	Fernando de la Mesa
Benjamin Feuillet	...	François de la Mesa
Martine Chevallier	...	Bonne Maman
Olivier Perrier	...	Bon Papa
Marie Kremer	...	Isabelle
Raphaël Personnaz	...	Mathieu, le marié
Mar Sodupe	...	Marga
Gabrielle Vallières	...	Cécile
Raphaëlle Molinier	...	Pilar
Carole Franck	...	Soeur Geneviève
Marie Llano	...	Mère Anne-Marie
Marie Payen	...	La mère poule
Marie-Noëlle Bordeaux	...	Filomena

Storyline

Hello, my name is Anna and I am nine years old. I wish you had known me before - I mean before my aunt Marga and my cousin Pilar came to my parents'house -, I was such a happy little girl. Before their coming life was a bed of roses. Of course my little brother could be a pain in the neck - little brothers always are, aren't they? - but there was that wonderful big house, there was my Cuban-born nanny who cooked so well, there was the bath before dinner, not to mention this wonderful catechism class at the catholic school. But they did come, those Spanish intruders. And now never heard before names like "Franco", "Allende", "Women's Lib", "abortion", the lot, have got into my life. Daddy and Mummy have suddenly become "communists", although this a term that Bon Papa and Bonne Maman (my grandparents from Bordeaux, in fact) just hate. Because of the intruders not only did we move to a tiny apartment but the place is invaded day and night by "barbudos" (bearded men). No more bath before ...

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Plot Keywords:

class | bath | girl | catechism | political activist | 

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Taglines:

Whose fault is it anyway?

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Gaumont Columbia Tristar [fr] Official site [jp]

Country:

Italy France

Language:

French

Release Date:

29 November 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

Blame It on Fidel!

Filming Locations:

Bordelais, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$9,004 (USA) (3 August 2007)

Gross:

$166,485 (USA) (14 December 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, Les Films du Worso, B Movies

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Marie de la Mesa: Is that why you want to change schools? You won't see your friend Cecile anymore.
Anna de la Mesa: It doesn't matter. It's like changing nannies.
Marie de la Mesa: How?
Anna de la Mesa: It's sad when they leave, but if the next one is nice, it's okay.

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Soundtracks

"Venceremos"
Written by Ortega / Iturra
Chilean revolutionary song sung by the leftist activists at Frenando's

User Reviews

Great, it is.

Wonderful movie that clears out your mind and leaves you purified when feeling so dirty. Wonderful little girl! Wonderful little boy! So amazed by how they are that I don't feel like saying more on the movie in general. Anna de la Mesa is so real. All that phases she goes through and all the complication of her mind are beautifully harmonized with the politics. It's not a story of a changing family (life); it's rather the display of a huge load on the shoulders of a little girl. It's worth it; watch it.

(By the way just because I watched the two in a row; I must say that "La Faute à Fidel" is much more effective than "Persepolis" in order of viewing the world from a growing child's point-of-view. Good directing there by Julie Gavras.)