The Hedgehog (2009)

The life of a determined young girl is changed when she befriends her building's concierge, a solitary woman who is more than what she seems.

Director:

Mona Achache

Writers:

Mona Achache (screenplay), Muriel Barbery (novel)

Stars:

Josiane Balasko, Garance Le Guillermic, Togo Igawa

10 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josiane Balasko	...	Renée Michel
Garance Le Guillermic	...	Paloma Josse
Togo Igawa	...	Kakuro Ozu
Anne Brochet	...	Solange Josse
Ariane Ascaride	...	Manuela Lopez
Wladimir Yordanoff	...	Paul Josse
Sarah Le Picard	...	Colombe Josse
Jean-Luc Porraz	...	Jean-Pierre, le clochard
Mona Heftre	...	Madame Meurisse
Gisèle Casadesus	...	Madame de Broglie
Samuel Achache	...	Tibère
Valérie Karsenti	...	La mère de Tibère
Stéphan Wojtowicz	...	Le père de Tibère
Isabelle Sobelmann	...	Anna Arthens
Jeanne Candel	...	La coiffeuse

Storyline

Paloma is a serious and highly articulate but deeply bored 11-year-old who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday. Fascinated by art and philosophy, she questions and documents her life and immediate circle, drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her. But as her appointment with death approaches, Paloma finally meets some kindred spirits in her building's grumpy concierge and an enigmatic, elegant neighbor, both of whom inspire Paloma to question her rather pessimistic outlook on life.

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Plot Keywords:

wealth | watching a movie | birthday | custodian | insight | 

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Taglines:

Let Life In.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song that Yoko is singing is a well known Japanese children's song called 'Zo San' (the Elephant), the lyrics were written by the poet Michio Mado and the tune by Dan Ikuma, the lyrics go, 'Elephant elephant, why is your nose so long? Yes, my mother's nose is this long too. Elephant elephant, who do you like most of all? I guess I like my mother most of all.'

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Goofs

When Paloma feeds the anti-depressant pill to the fish, the fish dies instantly. The fish would not die this fast.

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Quotes

Renée Michel: Happy families are all alike.
Kakuro Ozu: Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
[Quoting from Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina']

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Connections

Features Fascht e Familie (1994)

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Soundtracks

Requiem en Ré mineur: Confutatis maledictis
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as W.A. Mozart)
Performed by the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (as Orchestre Philharmonique de Slovaquie) and the Slovak Philharmonic Chorus (as Choeur Philharmonique de Slovaquie), conducted by Zdenek Kosler (as Zdeneck Kossler)

User Reviews

A delightful, insightful comedy of manners

I suppose if you have not read the book on which this film is based (L'elegance du herisson) you might be a little bewildered. I and the the jam-packed audience I saw it with in Fremantle, Western Australia, had. It is a delightful study of three 'outsider' personalities: a precocious teenage girl, a very unusual concierge and a Japanese gentleman. It probably resonates more if you know France, especially Paris; even Europe would do. I am now looking for it on DVD (at a reasonable price for Region 4) because it is a film I know I will watch again and again for its delicate study of 'la condition humaine' - the character studies are delightful. Don't be put off by earlier reviews. Leave your prejudices outside the cinema and sit back and enjoy a delicate, delightful study of three very non-American people observed in a very non-American way. If Australians can appreciate this film, it should appeal to anyone with sensibilities.

Details

Official Sites:

NeoClassics Films [United States] Official site [Australia]

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French Japanese

Release Date:

3 July 2009 (France)

Also Known As:

The Hedgehog

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$39,276, 21 August 2011

Gross USA:

$707,945

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,695,775

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films des Tournelles, Eagle Pictures, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1