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Stella

Original title: La maladroite
  • TV Movie
  • 2019
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
214
YOUR RATING
Isabelle Carré and Elsa Hyvaert in Stella (2019)
True CrimeCrimeDramaMysteryThriller

Stella is 6 but she is going to school for the first time. Happy, exuberant (maybe too much) she is a lovely child, but is often absent. Her parents say she is fragile. She tells her teacher... Read allStella is 6 but she is going to school for the first time. Happy, exuberant (maybe too much) she is a lovely child, but is often absent. Her parents say she is fragile. She tells her teacher, Céline, she fell when asked why she has a few bruises. Is it child abuse or real immune ... Read allStella is 6 but she is going to school for the first time. Happy, exuberant (maybe too much) she is a lovely child, but is often absent. Her parents say she is fragile. She tells her teacher, Céline, she fell when asked why she has a few bruises. Is it child abuse or real immune deficiency? The doubt is growing in the mind of those who meet the child. Worried, Céline ... Read all

  • Director
    • Éléonore Faucher
  • Writers
    • Alexandre Seurat
    • Françoise Charpiat
    • Natalie Carter
  • Stars
    • Elsa Hyvaert
    • Isabelle Carré
    • Émilie Dequenne
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    214
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Éléonore Faucher
    • Writers
      • Alexandre Seurat
      • Françoise Charpiat
      • Natalie Carter
    • Stars
      • Elsa Hyvaert
      • Isabelle Carré
      • Émilie Dequenne
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast38

    Edit
    Elsa Hyvaert
    • Stella Dubois
    Isabelle Carré
    Isabelle Carré
    • Céline Thibault
    Émilie Dequenne
    Émilie Dequenne
    • Emma Saugier
    India Hair
    India Hair
    • Laetitia Dubois
    Damien Jouillerot
    • Sylvain Dubois
    Pierre Diot
    • Ghislain Massini
    Coralie Russier
    Coralie Russier
    • Rachel David
    Patrick Descamps
    Patrick Descamps
    • Docteur Philippe
    Pasquale D'Inca
    • Capitaine Gressot
    Magali Woch
    • Lieutenant Kharoubi
    Christine Brücher
    • Docteur Pelta
    Juliette Navis
    • Juliette
    Tania Dessources
    • Julie Lemercier
    Lola Naymark
    Lola Naymark
    • Docteur Santis
    Maher Kamoun
    • Docteur Duteuil
    Jean Siuen
    • Brigadier N'Guyen
    Coline Beal
    • Infirmière Corine
    Oscar Copp
    Oscar Copp
    • Martin
    • Director
      • Éléonore Faucher
    • Writers
      • Alexandre Seurat
      • Françoise Charpiat
      • Natalie Carter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    7.5214
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    Featured reviews

    8DickVG

    Very emotional movie

    So sad that this story is based on true facts. One could ask oneself why people have children if they are going to treat them without love but only hate. It's a real ugliness that should never happen. I enjoyed the good acting of many, especially the child in the leading role. Amazing how one can be so convincing at such early age.
    Kirpianuscus

    a little girl story

    Elsa Hyvaert is just magnificent in the role of stella. And the theme of film is so inspired explored, offering to the viewer , near the final, the illusion than the explanation must be different by the indicated one by each clue.

    A film about abuse against child .

    And about teachers, medics, cops who have not enought courage /proves/madness to define in proper time the dark reality roots.

    A film about truth and a chain of mistakes.

    About a radical decision of a principal.

    About a terrible murder.

    And about repeted abuses, seen, examenated scars , debated but, in a form or other, ignored for the too convincing apparences.

    In short, a powerful story, the cold slice from near reality.
    8rajdoctor

    Heart-wrenching

    La maladroit

    The movie La maladroit means Awkwardness but the intended meaning is Clumsy. The movie is based on the book by Alexandre Seurat - who co-scripted the movie along with Director Eleonore Faucher.

    It tells the real-life story of a 8 year old girl Marina Sabalier (b 2001) who was abused, tortured and killed by her parents Virginie and Eric in August 2009. In the movie the child is named Stella.

    Marina was an unwanted child taken into government care- but within a month retrieved back by Virginie on re-establishing relationship with Eric. Violence on Marina began very early - who had crooked finger since 1 year of age, she was systematically abused, tortured, maltreated, malnourished in a very cruelly and inhuman ways - kicking, punching, lashing belting, beating with iron rods, placing her under cold showers, holding her head under water, making her walk on gravel, gagging her mouth with a duct tape, fastening her to bed and forcing her to eat salt, vinegar and vomit and starving her for several days.

    In 2006 Virginie's sister had complained to government agency about these abuses, but could not convince them to take action. In 2007, a school teacher suspected maltreatment but after talking to father, believed about a genetic disorder. In 2008, in a new school the teacher received reports from earlier teacher about suspicion of abuse and referred the case to social security, where medical examiner counted 19 injuries on the little girl. In 2009, Marina had severe foot injuries when she joined her new school - she was sent to hospital treatment for 5 weeks and upon recovery sent back to parents. Later a social worker who went to visit Marina at her home did not suspect any foul play. On 6-7 August 2009, Marina was brutally abused and tortured and left naked in the basement - where she died. The last words she spoke was "Good Night Mummy, see you tomorrow"

    It was only on 9 September 2009, Eric alerted the police about disappearance of their daughter and within three days the parents confessed of their crime. In July 2012 the parents were convicted for 30 years, but courts could not comprehend their motives and targeting Marina.

    Lack of coordination and follow-up with Government child-protection agencies and their failure to protect resulted in Marina's brutal death.

    The movie is directed superbly with extreme sensitiveness by Directress Eleoneor. The casting of all characters is perfect. Elsa Hyvaert is playing Marina's role (Stella) has given a truly remarkable performance. Without showing a single scene of abuse the movie makes us feel the heart-wrenching pain. I just wanted Marina to live and not die. I cried in helplessness that was there no one to stop this and save Marina? How can human beings be so cruel to their own children? The movie is so disturbing and reminds us that LOVE is the only answer to humanity's problems.

    I look forward to read the book in English translation - that is currently available only in French.

    (I will go with 8 out of 10 for this movie)

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Upon its initial airing in France, the film was immediately followed by a debate about child abuse, moderated by Carole Gaessler.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 20, 2019 (Belgium)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Belgium
    • Official site
      • AB International Distribution (France)
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Clumsy
    • Production companies
      • LM les Films
      • Storia Télévision
      • France Télévisions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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