Hafsia Herzi directs a moving coming-of-age drama where cultural identity and emerging sexuality struggle to reconcile.
Based on Fatima Daas’ auto fictional book The Last One (La Petite dernière), The Little Sister won its lead Nadia Melliti Best Actress at Cannes last year, alongside the Queer Palm, as wells as Best Female Hope at the César 2026.
Synopsis
Fatima, 17, the youngest of three daughters, treads carefully as she searches for her own path, grappling with emerging desires, her attraction to women, and her loyalty to her caring French-Algerian family. Starting university in Paris, she dates, makes friends, and explores a whole new world, all while confronting a timeless and heartrending dilemma: How can one stay true to oneself when reconciling different parts of one’s identity feels impossible?
Director’s statement
“It’s about a young woman who wants to live her own life. Her difference, in the eyes of others, shouldn’t be a source of suffering. Healing also comes through knowledge – school, university, education, learning about the world… Education is so important, especially when you come from a background where equal opportunity doesn’t exist.”
“These stories of rejection and pain, and the blatant homophobia I witnessed, only strengthened my resolve – which was already pretty high – to see this project through. It wasn’t easy to fund the film, because of the subject matter, but faced with such injustice, I just had to. I knew homophobia existed, but not to this extent. I was disgusted. The casting process was long because this film could only be made with people who shared its message of inclusion and tolerance.”
“I love it when there are mistakes; I tell actors not to stop if one happens. Realistic, everyday scenes are very hard to shoot. I wanted a certain tenderness – even though we shot practically everything handheld. I love close-ups. Filming souls, faces, portraits, feeling someone’s breath, their skin… I’m a fan of Pagnol, of Renoir – those great portraitists of cinema, or painting.”
Trailer
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Venue
Ciné Lumière at the Institut français, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT
Press Contact
Natacha Antolini / natacha.antolini@institut-francais.org.uk / 020 7871 3521