Directed by Muna Achache
Based on the best-selling French novel The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, the film takes place in a wealthy Parisian apartment block. It brings together three disparate people: precocious eleven year-old Paloma Josse (Garance Le Guillermic) who announces to her camera that she intends to commit suicide before her twelfth birthday; the humble concierge of the building Renee Michel (Josiane Balasko), who has a small apartment on the ground floor and a new arrival, wealthy Japanese widower Karkoru Ozu (Togo Igawa). It is a moving story about three people looking for beauty in this world and allowing themselves to be open to unexpected friendships.
Paloma is far too intelligent for her own good and despises what she sees as the pointless lives of her preoccupied father, sedated mother and university student sister. Despite all their wealth, she considers them to be closed-minded and pretentious. Always trying to hide from the rest of her family, her favourite place of refuge is with the concierge. Despite the difference in age and class, Paloma and Renee are both very lonely people who distance themselves from those around them. Paloma discovers that although Renee pretends to be ordinary, she is a hungry soul like herself and they both look beyond assumptions to seek out knowledge and wisdom.
Paloma draws similarities between Renee and the hedgehog- spiky on the outside but elegant on the inside. Renee is passionate about culture and the arts and has a secret room beyond the one she shows to the occupants of the building. When they meet Mr Ozu, a third kindred spirit, Paloma conspires with him to bring Renee out of her shell. It is a simple tale that goes beyond the ability we have to manipulate ourselves so that the foundation of our beliefs is never shaken.
Lezly Herbert
