In “Tomboy,” filmmaker Céline Sciamma’s (“Water Lilies,”) second feature, a family with two daughters, 10-year-old Laure and 6-year-old Jeanne, moves to a new suburban neighborhood during the summer holidays.

With her Jean Seberg haircut and tomboy ways, Laure is immediately mistaken for a boy by the local kids, and decides to pass herself off as “Mikael,” a boy different enough to catch the attention of leader of the pack Lisa, who becomes smitten. At home with her parents and girlie younger sister, she is Laure: hanging out with her new pals and girlfriend, she is Mikael. Finding resourceful ways to hide her true self, Laure takes advantage of her new identity, as if the end of the summer would never reveal her unsettling secret.

Céline Sciamma brings a light and charming touch to this contemporary coming-of-age story, which is also about relationships between children, children and parents, and the even more complicated one between one’s heart and body.

REVIEWS

"A sensitive portrait of childhood just before pubescence—when bodies and identities are still fluid—Tomboy astutely explores the freedom, however brief, of being untethered to the highly rule-bound world of gender codes." - Village Voice

" a beautiful, matter-of-fact French drama about a young girl who wants to be a boy "- Entertainment Weekly

"Tomboy stands out as an especially affecting delicacy about the thrills and pitfalls of exploring who one is." Los Angeles Times

"its gentle humour, natural rhythm and above all authentic performances make Tomboy beautiful, intimate cinema." - The Globe & Mail (Toronto)