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In tune with the emotion and tribulations of childhood, Tomboy is a charming movie that treats its main subject with warmth and heart.
All Critics (64) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (2)
Tomboy is a lovely reminder that the French have long been famous for a quite different sort of film-about children. Jun 19, 2013 | Full Review…
Tomboy is a lovely reminder that the French have long been famous for a quite different sort of film-about children.
Stanley Kauffmann
Brisk, precisely observed, and bracingly non-preachy in its examination of a very tricky subject. Mar 7, 2012 | Full Review…
Brisk, precisely observed, and bracingly non-preachy in its examination of a very tricky subject.
Jon Frosch
Writer and director Celine Sciamma adorns the thorny dilemma with resonant allusions to gender roles... Jan 27, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Writer and director Celine Sciamma adorns the thorny dilemma with resonant allusions to gender roles...
Joe Williams
Modestly conceived and executed. Jan 26, 2012 | Full Review…
Modestly conceived and executed.
J. R. Jones
"Tomboy" is tender and affectionate. Jan 26, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
"Tomboy" is tender and affectionate.
Roger Ebert
"Tomboy," a brief and sweetly refreshing French film, is the story of a lie. Jan 5, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
"Tomboy," a brief and sweetly refreshing French film, is the story of a lie.
Moira MacDonald
Should make people sit up and pay attention, not only due to Sciamma's naturalistic script and instinctive directing, but also the remarkable ensemble of young talent that she has consolidated into one film. Nov 26, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Should make people sit up and pay attention, not only due to Sciamma's naturalistic script and instinctive directing, but also the remarkable ensemble of young talent that she has consolidated into one film.
Sophie Kingston-Smith
Affecting, well-envisioned and delicately captured. Aug 13, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
Affecting, well-envisioned and delicately captured.
Jamie Neish
Since we are dealing with fresh-faced tweens, we are spared the gender histrionics to be found in the likes of The Crying Game or Boys Don't Cry. Those are indeed bigger films. But sometimes small things can pay off quite nicely. Nov 5, 2013 | Full Review…
Since we are dealing with fresh-faced tweens, we are spared the gender histrionics to be found in the likes of The Crying Game or Boys Don't Cry. Those are indeed bigger films. But sometimes small things can pay off quite nicely.
Chris Chang
Far from surprising at any point, Tomboy nonetheless holds one's attention though its sheer force of observation. Jul 24, 2012 | Rating: 52/100 | Full Review…
Far from surprising at any point, Tomboy nonetheless holds one's attention though its sheer force of observation.
Jeremy Heilman
The director's low-key approach to such a seemingly complex topic really illuminates the subject in both very basic and rather profound ways. Jul 15, 2012 | Full Review…
The director's low-key approach to such a seemingly complex topic really illuminates the subject in both very basic and rather profound ways.
Richard Knight
'Tomboy' makes its points about gender identity and confusion without resorting to cheap laughs or overwrought drama. May 4, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
'Tomboy' makes its points about gender identity and confusion without resorting to cheap laughs or overwrought drama.
John Beifuss
A very honest drama that raises some interesting questions about sexual identity or why genders should matter, and Sciamma directs her film with simplicity, observing her characters and using a welcome naturalistic direction to approach this delicate subject.
Super Reviewer
You rarely see a film centred on a young girl figuring out gender issues. In that regard, Sciamma's film is fascinating as is the reaction of the children she engages with.
These kids and the script are incredibly charming. Instantly makes the reader empathize with issues in gender confusion and root for the protagonist to maintain his perception of himself.
In "Tomboy," 10-year old Laure(Zoe Heran) moves to a new neighborhood with her parents(Sophie Cattani & Mathieu Demy) and younger sister Jeanne(Malonn Levana). While looking out from an apartment window one pleasant afternoon, Laure sees a group of boys playing out in the park. When she finally leaves her sister and sleeping, very, very pregnant mother behind in the apartment, the boys are gone, with only Lisa(Jeanne Disson), a girl of her age, left behind in their wake. Laure introduces herself as Mikael and they run after them together, so they can join in the fun. With that simple, elegant setup, writer-director Celine Sciamma tells an evocative and naturalistic genderblender with a very belieable sibling relationship. Sadly, the movie eventually runs straight into a narrative wall. Until then, Laure is not just being a tomboy; she is passing as a boy but not 24/7, so we'll keep to the feminine pronouns.(Actually, it is not until later that she is revealed not to be a boy.) She does this to enjoy the freedoms that boys enjoy but is too young to realize the minefield of gender that she has just walked into. That's where parents come in, as the movie smartly shows how parents help to shape their children's gender.
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