Petite fille (2020)

Directed by: Sebastien Lifshitz | 90 minutes | documentary

Since Sasha was three years old, she has been telling her parents that when she grows up she wants to be a girl. The fact that Sasha was born as a boy does not make her life easy. In the moving documentary ‘Petite Fille’, we follow a French family who stand as one front behind their now 7-year-old daughter and sister.

Sasha is on ballet and she enjoys it. From the corner of her eye she watches the other girls move gracefully. She copies the dance moves with verve. She’s not wearing a leotard; that is not allowed by the teacher who, because of her Russian descent, makes a harsh judgment about Sasha’s gender dysmorphism. The teacher points this out in great detail when there is a clothing pass with the words: ‘Look, guy’ and Sasha hands over a boy’s outfit. Sasha puts it on resignedly and stands shyly and the only one with a different dance costume among the other ballerinas.

Besides two loving parents who fully support her, Sasha has an older sister and brother and a younger brother. Her mother in particular throws herself into battle like a true lioness with everyone who does not value her daughter or takes it seriously. Because with a child of that age it must be a whim, right? A phase. A hype.

Mother Karine feels very guilty, because during her pregnancy she often said that she absolutely wanted a girl. Together with Sasha, she visits a renowned child psychologist in Paris several times and asks if she should have done something different as a mother-to-be. Whether it’s because of her. Fortunately, the psychologist immediately points her doubt to the realm of fables and explains that medical science has no answer about the cause of gender dysmorphism. The doctor asks questions of Sasha with the utmost understanding and the expression of the little girl is heartbreaking and revealing. She overflows with grief at other people’s misunderstanding. She doesn’t dare do simple things like showing her bedroom to classmates or wearing a bathing suit. And then you’re only seven years old.

Strengthened by a child psychologist, it is stated in writing that it is indeed a conscious and thoughtful signal from Sasha. Karine, in good spirits, calls school for the umpteenth time to speak to the principal. The new school year is approaching and she wants her daughter to be able to walk into class carefree as a girl. Unfortunately, she can only count on short-sighted ignorance and resistance from the school board.

The cinematography is as beautiful as the unconditional love that permeates this documentary. Sasha is lucky to grow up in a warm, tolerant environment where there is plenty of room for understanding and self-fulfillment. The camera is literally close to the family and that paints an intimate, moving and impressive portrait.

Sublime work by French director Sébastien Lifshitz, who already earned his stripes with the transgender documentary ‘Bambi’ from 2013. For ‘Petite fille’, the director approached two families (from Canada and France), opting for the French family. despite Karine’s reasonable doubts about putting her child in the spotlight at such a young age. The meeting between the director from Paris and Sasha turned out to be a success with milk, cookies and mutual trust.

In the run-up to the shooting, Sébastien talks about Marie-Pierre Pruvot (Bambi), a renowned Algerian show dancer from the 50s and 60s. Sasha becomes enchanted and hopeful, because it is Marie-Pierre – who was born in 1935 as Jean-Pierre – already managed to be accepted. By contrast, the environment that does not tolerate Sasha’s transition is highlighted in an equally respectful way. There is no mud throwing at society in which Sasha is not accepted and her peers are.

Petite fille is truly a beautiful, award-winning documentary in which respect, loyalty, acceptance and sincerity predominate.