36 fillette (1988)

36 fillette is a French romantic film drama first released in 1988, directed by Catherine Breillat.  The film stars Delphine Zentout, Etienne Chicot, Olivier Parnière, Jean-Pierre Léaud and Berta Domínguez D..  It has also been released under the title: Junior Size 36.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


Whilst on a camping holiday in Biarritz with her family, a 14 year old girl, Lili, becomes obsessed with losing her virginity.  She meets a middle-aged playboy, Maurice, and alternately flaunts with him and taunts him.  Although he is strongly attracted towards her, Lili is disgusted at the idea of losing her virginity to him, but she cannot stand being a virgin...

Even before she made this film, Catherine Breillat had acquired a reputation in her earlier novels and films for her frank and explicit portrayal of female sexuality.   Her previous film Tapage nocturne (1979) carried an 18 certificate and proved to be a commercial disaster.  To make her next film, 36 fillette, she was first obliged to write a novel on which the screenplay could be based.  When the film was released, it was with predictable controversy, many critics lambasting it for its indecent portrayal of adolescent sexuality.

The film is certainly daring, eye-catching and a worthy effort, but it is not entirely satisfying.  Whilst Breillat’s direction is creditable and technically the film is quite well made, it has difficulty engaging the audience and weak characterisation robs the film of conviction and meaning.  Part of the problem is that none of the lead characters is remotely sympathetic: Lili comes across as a confused and vicious brat, unsure what she wants, whilst Maurice resembles a rather empty, bland stereotype of an ageing playboy.

There is, however, one moment of magic, when Lili meets and starts to philosophise with suave concert pianist (played ironically by Jean-Pierre Léaud, who was himself something of a juvenile delinquent at the age of 14).  Unfortunately, that scene is short-lived and merely serves to reinforce the mixture of ennui and indecency in what follows.

© James Travers 2001

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