Girlhood
A fierce French coming-of-age drama follows a teenager who reinvents herself through friendship while fighting the constraints of family, school, and neighborhood power.
Overview
A young girl's quest for freedom leads her into a world of camaraderie and rebellion.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- intimate
- tense
- melancholic
- arthouse film night
- thoughtful solo viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a powerfully acted, smartly scripted, fresh, and emotionally authentic account of marginalized girlhood.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Marieme adopts the name Vic, changes her clothing, and reshapes her behavior after joining Lady, Adiatou, and Fily.
The drama focuses on Marieme’s family, school, neighborhood boys, and limited prospects in contemporary French suburbia.
Marieme’s bond with Lady, Adiatou, and Fily provides camaraderie, jokes, performance, and belonging amid family and social oppression.
The girls’ singing and group presence transform ordinary social spaces into moments of confidence and shared freedom.
Films like Girlhood, and why
Water Lilies
coming-of-age drama centered on female friendship, social constraint, and identity formation
Pariah
intimate youth drama exploring friendship, sexuality, and self-invention within restrictive social environments
The Selfish Giant
socially grounded coming-of-age film about marginalized teenagers, peer pressure, and precarious urban life
Fish Tank
female-led youth drama combining camaraderie, institutional pressure, and a search for autonomy
Movie Details
- Director
- Céline Sciamma
- Release Date
- 2014-10-22
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (409)
Cast
- Karidja Touré
- Assa Sylla
- Lindsay Karamoh
- Mariétou Touré
- Idrissa Diabaté
- Cyril Mendy
- Tia Diagne
- Rabah Nait Oufella
- Damien Chapelle
- Simina Soumaré
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Strand Releasing Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Girlhood about?
- A fierce French coming-of-age drama follows a teenager who reinvents herself through friendship while fighting the constraints of family, school, and neighborhood power.
- What is Girlhood like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Girlhood as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Girlhood violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Girlhood as mild.
- What did critics think of Girlhood?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a powerfully acted, smartly scripted, fresh, and emotionally authentic account of marginalized girlhood.
- Which films are like Girlhood?
- Films with a similar feel include Water Lilies, Pariah, The Selfish Giant, and Fish Tank.
- How long is Girlhood?
- Girlhood runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Girlhood?
- In United States, Girlhood streams on Strand Releasing Amazon Channel.
