Les Chatouilles

A powerful work of art on self-reconciliation from trauma, the movie is extremely potent in its drama. Despite the disturbing subject matter of sexual abuse and pedophilia, the movie never loses its sights on being hopeful, and this is a very hopeful film.

It begins with haunting imagery of sexual abuse, and carries on with intercuts of the experience in the middle of the drama happening in the present. Tremendous care seems to have gone in recreating the experience. It's neither exploitive, nor too dramatic. It's just the truth in your face, despite it being being scary. If you're able to sustain through the trauma of the scenes in the 1st act and the beginning of the 2nd act, you will be in for a journey of absolute beauty. The movie is filled with intimate nuances, and human moments that linger with you long after the credits roll. I liked the idea of navigating through traumas ala Eternal Sunshine, and really loved the friendship between Odette and Manu -- a very quirky and cute little friendship, filled with fun moments. I still feel bad that the mom is in denial, and harbors so much animosity towards her Odette, to which I think another film can be made to just resolve the drama between these two. Very beautiful. I also loved the fun exchanges between Odette and the "shrink" (who's definitely not fat), and I genuinely loved her father for actually acknowledging her daughter's suffering and asking for forgiveness for whatever that happened under his nose. The scene with Odette and her father in the car was powerful! And my god, the ending. I haven't been so moved to tears in a while. Bloody brilliant stuff! Odette (like in Swan Lake) will be remembered.

I still don't understand why this movie's not famous. I understand the title and the disturbing subject matter can put people off, and I wish the title and promotional material was more interesting rather than triggering. But that aside, the drama is extremely rewarding to the point where one shouldn't ignore it. This is a powerful film with powerful performances, and one shouldn't miss an experience like this in their life.

Andrea Bescond got deeply involved in this project. She did not only co-write the script and co-direct the movie with her husband, but she also had the leading role. Adapted from her play of the same name, the story is based on her own experience. As a victim of child abuse, she succeeds in making the plot believable. Thanks to her humor and her energy, it never falls into melodrama. We understand that this trauma left a permanent mark on her mind and that it took years to tidy things up. Dance and psychotherapy helped her release her pain. Even if I was a bit disturbed by the back and forth between past and present, reality and fantasy, I found the movie interesting. Especially because it sounds genuine. Moreover, it shows that child abusers can look like anybody. Most of them are indeed acquaintances or relatives.