Review of The Hedgehog (2009) by Mike M — 09 Sep 2011
The reason to rush out and catch it is Balasko, who seems unusually close to the janitor's self-loathing, refusing to let curdle into treacle the character's progress towards learning - against all her better instincts - to look life in the eye.
.. Elsewhere, the weaknesses of Barbery's source novel get magnified in the filming: the parents are flimsy cut-outs of privilege, and Paloma herself - a self-appointed expert on everything from psychoanalysis to 14th Franciscan friars - seems a bit too good to be true.
Thankfully, Achache and the film appear to recognise this, which is why she gradually becomes secondary to the grown-up business, much as Bart came to be replaced by Homer (rich as he was in both comic *and* dramatic potential) as the focal point of "The Simpsons".
It takes a while for "The Hedgehog" to arrive at this sweet spot, but when it gets past flicking the Vs at life's shiny, happy people, Achache's film is quietly assured, very decently performed and - particularly in its final stretch - unexpectedly touching.
This review of The Hedgehog (2009) was written by Mike M on 09 Sep 2011.
The Hedgehog has generally received positive reviews.
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