It's quite rare to see a film that perceives children as autonomous, intelligent and even political subjects, capable of their own actions and advanced life decisions. This is precisely what youth genre should be like in general (instead we mostly have to see children do childish things, going on goofy magical adventures that always end well - someone should tell European tv producers they should stop making ignorant children's and youth films).
The story gets extremely touching towards the end, reminding us a bit of Charles Chaplin's The Kid, where the kids go their own way without the help of the weak adults, who cannot bear their grown-up responsibilities. Instead, the kids assume the roles of grown ups and begin to act within the world, carrying great moral burdon and responsibility. Meanwhile, the adults are caught up in their lifeless, bureaucratic structures, as well as in their stereotypical perceptions, which doesn't allow them to act as agents of their own destinies, and prevent them from having authentic relationships (in the case of Manon's parents). There is much more to the relationship between Manon and her parents that we could say here, perhaps it's enough to say that it's portrayed with great sensibility and doesn't demonize the mother, even though the film's firmly on the girl's side.
The dialogues, story and acting are also of great quality, if not brilliant, and especially notable is the performance of the young leading actress Milya Corbeil-Gauvreau.
The story gets extremely touching towards the end, reminding us a bit of Charles Chaplin's The Kid, where the kids go their own way without the help of the weak adults, who cannot bear their grown-up responsibilities. Instead, the kids assume the roles of grown ups and begin to act within the world, carrying great moral burdon and responsibility. Meanwhile, the adults are caught up in their lifeless, bureaucratic structures, as well as in their stereotypical perceptions, which doesn't allow them to act as agents of their own destinies, and prevent them from having authentic relationships (in the case of Manon's parents). There is much more to the relationship between Manon and her parents that we could say here, perhaps it's enough to say that it's portrayed with great sensibility and doesn't demonize the mother, even though the film's firmly on the girl's side.
The dialogues, story and acting are also of great quality, if not brilliant, and especially notable is the performance of the young leading actress Milya Corbeil-Gauvreau.