Ten-year-old Laure isn't like most girls. She prefers football to dolls and sweaters to dresses. When Laure and her family move to a new neighbourhood, local girl Lisa mistakes Laure for a boy. Indulging in this exciting new identity, Laure becomes Mickaël, and so begins a summer of long sunny afternoons, playground games and first kisses. Yet with the school term fast approaching, and with suspicions arising amongst friends and... see more
Ten-year-old Laure isn't like most girls. She prefers football to dolls and sweaters to dresses. When Laure and her family move to a new neighbourhood, local girl Lisa mistakes Laure for a boy. Indulging in this exciting new identity, Laure becomes Mickaël, and so begins a summer of long sunny afternoons, playground games and first kisses. Yet with the school term fast approaching, and with suspicions arising amongst friends and... see more
Early on in the movie we see Mikael/Laure read the <i>Jungle Book</i> for Jeanne and recount the story of <i>Mowgli</i>. <i>Mowgli</i> is a young, orphaned boy who had been found by a black panther and raised by a pack of wolves in the jungles since infancy. However, <i>Mowgli</i> is forced to leave his pack to live among humans When a murderous tiger becomes determined to kill him. Refusing to abandon his wild side, <i>Mowgli</i> instead strives to find a new place for himself in the jungle... and that's exactly what that kid tried to do.
Settling in a new home with a pregnant mother and a little sister, Mikael feels as though the family's move can be a fresh start for them. Liberated, they try to navigate an alienating yet exhilarating voyage, a journey with devastating consequences.
Truth be told, I used to be Laure/Mikael as a child. Young and naive, I had my fair share of confusing sexual encounters with the girl/boy next door. I know that smile, recognize that guilt and feel that shame deep in my bones. That's why I believe <i>Sciamma</i>'s intention was not necessarily to portray a trans coming of age story. more so, with <i>Tomboy, </i>she was trying to elicit and depict emotions and experiences far too complicated for a child to fathom.
Unlike many others, I believe the final sequences of the film illustrate a promising picture. Despite Mikael introducing themselves as Laure, we look on as the mother cherishes, feeds and nurtures her newborn. a healthy baby boy.
Mikael has found a new place in this jungle of madness.
× <b>Best Line</b>: But Mikael was my favorite.