Fat Girl
Encyclopedia
À ma sœur! is a 2001 French film
directed by Catherine Breillat
and starring Roxane Mesquida
. It was released in some English speaking countries under the alternative titles For My Sister or Fat Girl.
Breillat's experience shooting the film inspired her 2002 film Sex Is Comedy
, which revolves around shooting a sex scene from the film. Mesquida reprised the scene for the later movie.
) are vacationing with their parents on the French seaside. Bored of staying in their vacation home, the two walk into town while discussing relationships and their virginity. Although Elena has been promiscuous, she is saving herself for someone who loves her, while heavy-set Anaïs thinks it is better to lose one's virginity to a "nobody" just to get it over with.
They meet an Italian law student, Fernando (Libero De Rienzo
), at a cafe. While Elena flirts with him, Anaïs orders a banana split
. Later, Fernando sneaks into the girls' bedroom for a liaison
with Elena. Anaïs is awake and watches their entire interaction. After a conversation about Fernando's previous relationships with other women, Elena consents to have sex with him, but backs out at the last minute. Frustrated, Fernando pressures her through various means, including threatening to sleep with some other woman just to alleviate himself. Finally, Elena consents to anal sex
as a "proof of love", although it is obviously a painful experience for her.
In the morning, Fernando asks for oral sex
from Elena before he leaves, but Anaïs has had enough and tells them to let her sleep in peace. The next day, the girls and Fernando go to the beach. Anaïs sits in the ocean in her new dress and sings to herself while Elena and Fernando go off alone together. Later, as the girls are reminiscing about their childhood together back at the house, Elena reveals that Fernando has given her a mauve opal engagement ring while at the beach. That night, Elena gives up her virginity to Fernando as Anaïs silently cries on the other side of the room.
Fernando's mother comes to the house demanding her mauve opal ring back, which her son secretly took from her. Since their father has gone home early, the girls' mother must drive them back to their home outside of Paris. After a long day battling traffic, the three pull into a rest area to catch some sleep. During the night, a man with an axe suddenly breaks in the windshield, swings his axe against the head of Elena in the passenger seat, and strangles the mother in the driver's seat. Anaïs quietly leaves the back seat of the car, but the killer follows her into the nearby woods and rape
s her.
In the morning, while the police are escorting her from the scene, Anaïs insists that she was not raped and that it was consensual, referring to her earlier intention to lose her virginity to someone who doesn't matter.
in the fall of 2001 because the board objected to the film's representation of teenage sexuality. This ban was eventually overturned and the film played in several theatres in 2003.
and the France Culture Award at the Cannes festival
.
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
directed by Catherine Breillat
Catherine Breillat
Catherine Breillat is a French filmmaker, novelist and Professor of Auteur Cinema at the European Graduate School.-Life and career:Breillat was born in Bressuire, Deux-Sèvres, but grew up in Niort...
and starring Roxane Mesquida
Roxane Mesquida
Roxane Mesquida is a French actress and model based in Los Angeles.Mesquida grew up in Le Pradet, a little town located in South of France. Her mother, writer Françoise Mesquida, is French/Spanish and her father is Italian/American but Mesquida never got to know him...
. It was released in some English speaking countries under the alternative titles For My Sister or Fat Girl.
Breillat's experience shooting the film inspired her 2002 film Sex Is Comedy
Sex is Comedy
Sex Is Comedy is a 2002 French film written and directed by Catherine Breillat.-Overview:Sex Is Comedy revolves around a director and her troubles filming an intimate sex scene between two actors who cannot tolerate each other....
, which revolves around shooting a sex scene from the film. Mesquida reprised the scene for the later movie.
Synopsis
Twelve-year-old Anaïs is fat. Her older sister is a teenage beauty. While on vacation with their parents, Anaïs tags along with Elena as she explores the dreary seaside town. Elena meets Fernando, an Italian law student, who seduces her with promises of love, and the ever-watchful Anaïs bears witness to the corruption of her sister’s innocence.Plot
Anaïs (Anaïs Reboux) and her older sister, Elena (Roxane MesquidaRoxane Mesquida
Roxane Mesquida is a French actress and model based in Los Angeles.Mesquida grew up in Le Pradet, a little town located in South of France. Her mother, writer Françoise Mesquida, is French/Spanish and her father is Italian/American but Mesquida never got to know him...
) are vacationing with their parents on the French seaside. Bored of staying in their vacation home, the two walk into town while discussing relationships and their virginity. Although Elena has been promiscuous, she is saving herself for someone who loves her, while heavy-set Anaïs thinks it is better to lose one's virginity to a "nobody" just to get it over with.
They meet an Italian law student, Fernando (Libero De Rienzo
Libero De Rienzo
-Career:De Rienzo was born at Naples, but was raised at Rome.In 2001, De Rienzo appeared in three films: Fat Girl, Gioco con la morte, and Santa Maradona. He received a David di Donatello award for best supporting actor for his work in Santa Maradona...
), at a cafe. While Elena flirts with him, Anaïs orders a banana split
Banana split
A banana split is an ice cream-based dessert. In its classic form it is served in a long dish called a boat. A banana is cut in half lengthwise and laid in the dish. There are many variations, but the classic banana split is made with scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream served in...
. Later, Fernando sneaks into the girls' bedroom for a liaison
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
with Elena. Anaïs is awake and watches their entire interaction. After a conversation about Fernando's previous relationships with other women, Elena consents to have sex with him, but backs out at the last minute. Frustrated, Fernando pressures her through various means, including threatening to sleep with some other woman just to alleviate himself. Finally, Elena consents to anal sex
Anal sex
Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men...
as a "proof of love", although it is obviously a painful experience for her.
In the morning, Fernando asks for oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
from Elena before he leaves, but Anaïs has had enough and tells them to let her sleep in peace. The next day, the girls and Fernando go to the beach. Anaïs sits in the ocean in her new dress and sings to herself while Elena and Fernando go off alone together. Later, as the girls are reminiscing about their childhood together back at the house, Elena reveals that Fernando has given her a mauve opal engagement ring while at the beach. That night, Elena gives up her virginity to Fernando as Anaïs silently cries on the other side of the room.
Fernando's mother comes to the house demanding her mauve opal ring back, which her son secretly took from her. Since their father has gone home early, the girls' mother must drive them back to their home outside of Paris. After a long day battling traffic, the three pull into a rest area to catch some sleep. During the night, a man with an axe suddenly breaks in the windshield, swings his axe against the head of Elena in the passenger seat, and strangles the mother in the driver's seat. Anaïs quietly leaves the back seat of the car, but the killer follows her into the nearby woods and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s her.
In the morning, while the police are escorting her from the scene, Anaïs insists that she was not raped and that it was consensual, referring to her earlier intention to lose her virginity to someone who doesn't matter.
Controversy
The film was banned in Ontario by the Ontario Film Review BoardOntario Film Review Board
The Ontario Film Review Board is an agency of the government of the Canadian province of Ontario that is responsible for that province's motion picture rating system...
in the fall of 2001 because the board objected to the film's representation of teenage sexuality. This ban was eventually overturned and the film played in several theatres in 2003.
Awards
In 2001 the film won the Manfred Salzgeber Award at the Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
and the France Culture Award at the Cannes festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.