Known for her notable film roles, Hafsia Herzi is stepping onto the other side of the red carpet for the first time at Cannes, as a director in the official competition. Presented Friday, May 16, La Petite Dernière, her new film, delves into the intimate life of a young woman torn between faith, family traditions, and budding desires. Starring Nadia Melliti, the film's true revelation, this coming-of-age tale captivated festivalgoers.
A portrait of adolescence between fidelity and rupture
Fatima, 17, lives with her parents and two sisters in a housing project in the Paris suburbs. A serious student by day, a quiet teenager by night, her daily life is punctuated by religion, soccer, and her relationships with a group of boys she calls her "brothers." But beneath this apparent normality, something is bubbling: the day the word "lesbian" is thrown around during an altercation at school, a feeling of unease sets in. Shortly after, Fatima downloads a dating app... for women.
It's the starting point of a long journey toward self-acceptance. Over four seasons, Hafsia Herzi accompanies her heroine through her transformation: first experiences, love stories, inner rifts, and conflicts. Fatima attempts to reconcile what she feels with what is expected of her. Her faith, her family, and her cultural identity become powerful yet restrictive benchmarks.
A modest and luminous staging
Shot in tight shots, with lighting that shifts from cold to warm throughout the story, La Petite Dernière follows its main character closely. The understated, almost documentary aesthetic captures everyday details, eloquent silences, and restrained gestures. Far from heavy-handed effects, Hafsia Herzi focuses on accuracy and restrained emotion, particularly in a very delicate final scene.
Adapted from Fatima Daas's autobiographical novel, the film directly addresses topics rarely addressed in French cinema: homosexuality within a strict religious and family framework, the burden of secrecy, but also the role of education as a path to emancipation. A philosophy student, Fatima gradually finds her voice, different from that of her sisters or her mother, without denying her origins.
While some critics point to a sometimes conventional structure, the film captivates with its humanity and the sincerity of its message. Nadia Melliti's intense and restrained performance plays a large part in this.
The Little Last One will be released in theaters on October 1st.
