Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Paloma is a serious and highly articulate but deeply bored 11-year-old who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday. Fascinated by art and philosophy, she questions and documents her life and immediate circle, drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her. But as her appointment with death approaches, Paloma finally meets some kindred spirits in her building's grumpy janitor and an enigmatic, elegant neighbor, both of whom inspire Paloma to question her rather pessimistic outlook on life.
The Hedgehog (Le hérisson) is a quietly distinctive French drama that earns its reputation through two remarkable performances — Garance Le Guillermic as the precocious Paloma and Josiane Balasko as the secretly cultivated concierge Renée — anchored by the gentle, luminous presence of Togo Igawa as Kakuro Ozu. The film's novelty lies in its unusual tonal blend: philosophical precocity, wry social comedy, and genuine emotional warmth, adapted from Muriel Barbery's beloved novel with a voice that feels singular among French art-house films of its era. The plot, while charming, occasionally leans on the contrivances of the source material — the somewhat schematic pairing of misfits can feel arranged rather than organic. Cinematography is competent and Parisian-lovely but unremarkable. The ending, while emotionally effective, arrives somewhat abruptly and leans on a narrative device (the sudden death of Renée) that some viewers find manipulative rather than earned, preventing the resolution from feeling fully satisfying.