Cuties

In an act of defiance against her conservative family's adherence to Senegalese traditions, 11-year-old Amy joins her Parisian school friends' raunchy dance group, 'The Cuties'.

The central story thread is the overt sexualisation of young girls, with blame is placed squarely on social media and the peer pressure of wanting to fit in. Rather than creating or recreating the problems, the director depicts and documents them. Well-framed is the mother's acceptance of her familial restraints while her daughter impulsively rebels. "Cuties" is bold storytelling and uncomfortable viewing of a subject which is hard to depict without seeming to contribute to it. Too cute to handle.

Online Release 12th September 2020
Netflix 96 mins