Petits Freres (2001)

Synopsis: French director Jacques Doillon (PONETTE, LE PETIT CRIMINEL) creates another slice-of-life drama about disaffected youth with PETITS FRERES. Stéphanie Touly stars as Talia, a 13-year old girl who... French director Jacques Doillon (PONETTE, LE PETIT CRIMINEL) creates another slice-of-life drama about disaffected youth with PETITS FRERES. Stéphanie Touly stars as Talia, a 13-year old girl who escapes her sexually abusive stepfather and together with her pit bull terrier, Kim, heads for the Pantin projects outside Paris. There she meets the "little guys," a gang of Arab, black, and Jewish youths who lead a life of idleness and petty crime. Though they befriend Talia, it's initially only in order to steal the dog and sell her into a life of fighting. As Talia begins a frustrated search for Kim, the boys all pretend to help, especially Iliès (Iliès Sefraoui) who falls in love with her during their hunt. However in this adultless world no order or sense prevails and it seems unlikely anyone will escape happily, especially when the frustrated Talia gets Iliès to buy her a gun. Spontaneous, gritty, and generally well acted (particularly by the charming Touly), Doillon's film captures the aimlessness of these youths as they steal, cajole and play video games without a single thought for the future. Despite the potentially depressing subject matter, the film maintains a cheerful, kid's eye view of the proceedings. [More]

Starring: Stéphanie Touly, Iliès Sefraoui, Mustapha Goumane, Nassim Izem

Starring: Stéphanie Touly, Iliès Sefraoui, Mustapha Goumane, Nassim Izem, Rachid Mansouri, Dembo Goumane, Gérald Dantsoff

Director: Jacques Doillon

Director: Jacques Doillon
Screenwriter: Jacques Doillon
Producer: Marin Kamitz
Composer: Oxmo Puccino
Studio: First Run Features

[See More Credits]