A closer look at Ponette

Yesterday, CineVerse dissected the French film "Ponette," a study of a young child trying to cope with the death of her mother. The group discussion yielded some interesting observations. Here are some of the highlights of that talk:

WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST ABOUT THIS FILM?

·       The incredible acting performance from 4-year-old actress Victoire Thivisol

·       It’s a sad and difficult subject matter, but not a hopeless and depressing movie

·       It takes you inside the mind and emotions of a 4-year-old child and tells the story consistently from her point of view and her level (literally, the camera is at her height and follows her around)

·       We as viewers are made to feel responsible for Ponette: consider how absent the grownups are in many scenes, leaving us to feel more concerned about her and determined to see that she endures and overcomes the pain

·       The ending is rather unexpected, considering its supernatural take

WHAT IMPRESSED YOU ABOUT THE YOUNG ACTRESS’ PERFORMANCE?

·       She expresses a range of emotions, especially a sincere sadness and grief that doesn’t feel contrived in the least

·       She always stays in character and acts with no trace of self-consciousness or exaggeration

·       Her tears are completely believable and heart-wrenchingly real

·       It makes you wonder, however, how the filmmakers were able to elicit this raw performance out of such a young actress. Was she able to cry on cue, without motivation, or was some kind of catalyst involved? If so, is it morally right to provoke a young child to cry and be truly distressed like that?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THEMES AND MESSAGES THIS MOVIE ESPOUSES?

·       What adults can learn from the resiliency and adaptability of a young child: If a 4-year-old can find a way cope with grief and loss, anyone can

·       There are no easy answers when a loved one dies: religious faith and hopes for the best are easily challenged by the disarming and sincere questions of an innocent child who finds it hard to understand

·       How does one answer the unanswerable? Framing serious theological matters (that question God, the afterlife, superstition and other issues) through the eyes of a child is a clever way to address these questions

·       Arguably, the movie is less about the consequences of death and loss and more about the emotional and intellectual growth of a small child, who is naturally inquisitive and interactive in her learning process.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE FILM, WHICH REUNITES PONETTE WITH HER MOTHER?

·       On one hand, you could make the case that it brings a needed sense of comfort and closure not only to Ponette but to an audience that may weary of grieving and worrying about the title character

·       On the other hand, what is the nature of this mother-child reunion? If it’s a supernatural miracle, what does that say to the millions out there who won’t be able to magically reunite with a loved one who passed away? Doesn’t this lead to false hopes and unrealistic expectations?

·       Also, doesn’t this ending defeat the purpose of Ponette’s emotional journey throughout the film and undermine the coping skills and natural sense of closure she could have earned on her own?

·       Detractors can complain that the feel-good finale feels tacked on, as if it were a nice, quick, painless way to put a happy face bow on top of a very weighty and somber package.