Deriving its title from "La Vie en Rose" (one of the most famous French songs in history), "Ma Vie en Rose" is a courageous film that presents a controversial topic in a truly captivating, childlike light.
Ludovic Fabre is convinced that he was meant to be born a little girl. With all his seven-year-old wisdom, he calmly explains that his male gender is simply "a scientific error," one that he will soon correct. But instead of becoming female, Ludo becomes prey. His schoolmates tease him, his principal expels him, and his soccer teammates beat him up. Ludo's two older brothers, who are on the same soccer team, do nothing but watch.
Throughout the film, the true colors of Ludo's brothers and of everyone around him are revealed as they each try to deal with his behavior. Ludo's teacher makes an admirable speech about respecting those different from you. Ludo and his eccentric grandmother grow closer. But a terrible rift develops between Ludo and his seemingly-loving mother, Hanna. When her family is living in a comfortable neighborhood and her husband has a good job, Hanna makes every possible excuse for Ludo's gender confusion. She lets him grow his hair long and even wear a skirt, and when Pierre, Ludo's father, makes the mere suggestion to cut their son's long hair, Hanna snaps, "Well, why don't we just crucify him?" But in a powerful and painful shock, Hanna is revealed to be only a fair-weather friend to her son. After Pierre is fired (apparently because of Ludo's attempts to "marry" the boss's son), Hanna suddenly turns on Ludo, screaming and snapping at him, blaming him for all the family's problems. Both Ludo and the viewer feel completely crushed and betrayed. After Hanna physically abuses him in a scene of scary intensity, Ludo runs away, and the ending that follows is truly remarkable.
Ludovic Fabre is convinced that he was meant to be born a little girl. With all his seven-year-old wisdom, he calmly explains that his male gender is simply "a scientific error," one that he will soon correct. But instead of becoming female, Ludo becomes prey. His schoolmates tease him, his principal expels him, and his soccer teammates beat him up. Ludo's two older brothers, who are on the same soccer team, do nothing but watch.
Throughout the film, the true colors of Ludo's brothers and of everyone around him are revealed as they each try to deal with his behavior. Ludo's teacher makes an admirable speech about respecting those different from you. Ludo and his eccentric grandmother grow closer. But a terrible rift develops between Ludo and his seemingly-loving mother, Hanna. When her family is living in a comfortable neighborhood and her husband has a good job, Hanna makes every possible excuse for Ludo's gender confusion. She lets him grow his hair long and even wear a skirt, and when Pierre, Ludo's father, makes the mere suggestion to cut their son's long hair, Hanna snaps, "Well, why don't we just crucify him?" But in a powerful and painful shock, Hanna is revealed to be only a fair-weather friend to her son. After Pierre is fired (apparently because of Ludo's attempts to "marry" the boss's son), Hanna suddenly turns on Ludo, screaming and snapping at him, blaming him for all the family's problems. Both Ludo and the viewer feel completely crushed and betrayed. After Hanna physically abuses him in a scene of scary intensity, Ludo runs away, and the ending that follows is truly remarkable.