Nadia Melliti's performance in The Little Sister has captivated Cannes critics, who have called it a "stone-cold stunner" and noted her as a breakout talent. At just 18, this is Melliti's first time acting, and she plays Fatima, a Franco-Algerian high school student navigating her sexual identity while keeping it hidden from her religious family. The film, based on Fatima Daas's semi-autobiographical novel, is a nuanced coming-of-age story that explores complex themes around love and cultural identity, with Melliti's portrayal receiving particular praise for its authenticity and emotional resonance.
"Stone-cold stunner," "gorgeously modulated body-and-soul performance," "one of the most auspicious screen debuts I've seen in a while," "the kind of talent Cannes urgently needs more of."
Melliti carries the film with a performance that feels effortless and naturalistic. She spends much of it in a defensive crouch, trying to find herself while also keeping that self a secret from the people she loves most.
I do hope that the film helps people to better understand and to ponder on certain important issues."
The Little Sister is a sensitive, moving, often quite sexy coming of age story that avoids a lot of the genre's trappings in favor of something subtler and more complex.
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