As ever the English title misses entirely the dark humour of the original, Naissance des pieuvres (Birth of the octopi). This was a typically French film about burgeoning sexuality in three fifteen year old girls living in a new town just outside Paris. One of the girls has not yet developed so is not yet boy bait; another finds her puppy fat puts boys off, and the third is very attractive and has an undeserved "reputation" which she enjoys but can't handle. The story is told against the backdrop of a synchronised swimming club (no under-arm hair allowed) of which the attractive one is captain. The first girl is friends with the second one, but is beginning to find her boring and is attracted to the captain. At first the captain doesn't want to be bothered, but then becomes friendly, using the girl as a lookout for her assignations which are more innocent than they look. The captain is going around with the swimming club hot boy, after whom "puppy fat" lusts. In this adolescent hothouse, the captain tries and fails to lose her virginity, the hot boy left hot, seeks solace with No Two who is more than happy to oblige, while the first girl is left rather confused. End of story. It was a quiet, understated but intense film about real people, with the underwater shots in the civic swimming pool intended to convey the suppressed emotions of the principal characters. Interestingly, there were almost no adults in the film: the girls are all presumably from stable, middle class homes with caring parents, so there is no need to show them.
Some American reviewers have complained that the film is only for those who like to watch pubescent girls in skimpy swimming costumes. Whilst that is a plus point of the film, the comment completely overlooks what is probably not too bad a take on life in les banlieues. It certainly seemed more realistic (and was much better presented) than Thirteen.
Some American reviewers have complained that the film is only for those who like to watch pubescent girls in skimpy swimming costumes. Whilst that is a plus point of the film, the comment completely overlooks what is probably not too bad a take on life in les banlieues. It certainly seemed more realistic (and was much better presented) than Thirteen.