Fat Girl
Two sisters confront jealousy, desire, and the brutal instability of adolescence during a summer holiday on the French coast.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- provocative
- unflinching
- melancholic
- arthouse film night
- feminist cinema discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a beautifully shot, powerful, and deliberately harsh portrait of female adolescence and sexual awakening.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Elena's flirtation and Anaïs's observation expose desire, jealousy, deceit, and vulnerability without romanticizing adolescence.
Anaïs's eating, insecurity, and contrast with Elena's beauty shape the sisters' rivalry and shared yet unequal desires.
Catherine Breillat frames female adolescence and sexual relations through an unflinching, controversial perspective centered on the sisters.
The holiday romance and the sisters' complicity generate unforeseen tragic consequences for the entire family.
Films like Fat Girl, and why
The Virgin Suicides
unflinching female adolescence, sexual awakening, and psychologically abrasive family dynamics
The Piano Teacher
provocative coming-of-age drama centered on female desire, repression, and social performance
The Dreamers
raw adolescent sexuality, class tension, and emotionally confrontational European art cinema
Mysterious Skin
disturbing examination of puberty, desire, and family dysfunction through an adolescent perspective
Movie Details
- Director
- Catherine Breillat
- Release Date
- 2001-03-07
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (262)
Cast
- Anaïs Reboux
- Roxane Mesquida
- Libero De Rienzo
- Arsinée Khanjian
- Romain Goupil
- Laura Betti
- Albert Goldberg
- Odette Barrière
- Ann Matthijsse
- Pierre Renverseau
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Fat Girl about?
- Two sisters confront jealousy, desire, and the brutal instability of adolescence during a summer holiday on the French coast.
- What is Fat Girl like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Fat Girl as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Fat Girl violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Fat Girl as moderate.
- What did critics think of Fat Girl?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a beautifully shot, powerful, and deliberately harsh portrait of female adolescence and sexual awakening.
- Which films are like Fat Girl?
- Films with a similar feel include The Virgin Suicides, The Piano Teacher, The Dreamers, and Mysterious Skin.
- How long is Fat Girl?
- Fat Girl runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Fat Girl?
- In United States, Fat Girl streams on HBO Max.
