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Sejahdah Douglas
Professor Lauren Danner
English 102B: Visual Culture
June 14 2015

Girlhood: A Coming-Of-Age Film Analysis Expressing Cultures Significant Role in the

Journey to Self

Here it is again. One of the most relatable genres there is: the coming-of-age
film, or the journey to adulthood story. This is the type of film that speaks and relates to
many individuals across the world. Celine Sciamma, film director and French film writer,
brings her third coming-of-age film: Girlhood to the scene in 2014. Girlhood is an
independent film that may not have reached the billboards or the top charts in the movie
theaters, but does reach the viewers hearts. With countless positive reviews and
testimonies, Girlhood is a feature film that shows the realities of growing up, and the
strides it takes to get there. Although all coming-of-age films deliver the same main plot,
the unique, individual story of a character is what makes these types of movies worth
watching. The personal connection to the character signifies strength in the story, and
gives the viewer that emotional feeling and connection. Girlhood does just that. This film
connects you to the protagonist, and reminds you of how real the story is, despite its
scripted lines and directed characters. The story of the protagonist is emphasized and
the dialogue of emotions create vivid scenes that harp on the minds of its viewers.
Through the characters draining encouragement, and the emotions and apprehensions
of the protagonist, Girlhood shows viewers how the cultural values and norms of the

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young black girls (characters) in France affected the growth and positive mindset of the
protagonist, Marieme.
The main character, Marieme, is a young girl, fresh out of middle school.
Marieme is a girl who dreams of success and hopes for the future. The very first scene
captures a powerful moment in the movie. The innocent, unguided young girl sits in the
counselors office at her dream high school. For the first time, Marieme receives
negative advice from a woman who is supposed to give her positive educational
guidance. The scene pictures Marieme with a smile on her face. The distinct emotion
turns into pure sadness when she hears was the counselor has to say. The camera
focuses on Marieme when the words are uttered: you wont do well in high school, you
might as well enroll into some type of training program. This scene in the movie is the
turning point for Marieme. Marieme gives into what she has heard and lets go of her
dreams. Throughout the movie, she gradually grasps the mindset that she is not wired
to dream, but wired to have wild fun, party, and live her life day by day with no thoughts
of the future. No longer will she be that little girl, encouraged and nurtured. Her growth
and signs of maturity is a confusing thing for the people around her to understand. She
has now, automatically, become a statistic, fitting the role of young dark colored girls, in
a place where she is told she does not belong.
To analyze Mariemes role as the protagonist, or to even begin talking about the
characters part take in Mariemes journey to self, I must first talk about the relevance of
the setting and plot of the story. The director, Celine Sciamma is from France. Sciamma
was born and raised in France; her personal connection and knowledge of the French

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culture shows relevant in the film. France is a place where the culture of young blacks is
stigmatized. French black teens have created a world for themselves that surround the
influences and ideas of others. The film suggests to its viewers that these young
teenagers of color feel that they are in a place they do not fit or belong. There are times
in the movies that this is a clear statement. Girlhood involves characters that play the
role of French role models and celebrities. A perfect example from the movie involves a
celebrity character, who Marieme and her friends look up to and idolize. As Marieme
and her peers ride on the train, the celebrity star walks into the doubled-doors of the
train and sits next to the girls. Immediately, Marieme is intrigued and ready to jump to
public excitement. This scene shows us exactly how the girls view the society around
them. They do not believe that they should show how they feel, a wall has been put up.
These girls show viewers that by hiding their emotions and true feelings, they can keep
up the stereotype that they are strong, that they do not care, and that they do not belong
showing interest in a French, fair-skinned celebrity. As I watched this scene, I believe
the film suggested the atmosphere of the movie. Ignore and be ignored. This is the
mindset. Throughout the movie, the relations Marieme has with a gang of girls impact
her life, and she subconsciously begins to agree with this type of poisonous lifestyle.
The film, and this particular example, shows that where you come should reflect how
you act and conduct yourself. In my research on African-Americans in French culture, I
came across an article titled: France's Forgotten People. This article talks about blacks
who live in France, and how they are almost forgotten. It explains that France has even
gone as far as to make promises to the black community to provide more benefits and
opportunities. Half of the Black people in France claim they are victims of

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discrimination. . . There is a reality of Frances cold shoulder approach to its Black
population, it is why the children run in the streets (Herve).
Knowing the settings relevance for a film can make a difference in interpretation
and analysis. The information I received about blacks in the French community, helps
me and my readers understand why the characters in Girlhood act the way they do and
why. This information also creates the start of my claims. Marieme was a girl who never
understood the black French community, she did not that there was a certain way to act
or a certain personality to portray. Her peers taught her how to act, they taught her who
to be. There was no room for Marieme to be original, and this is how her growth and
maturity was stunted.
As Marieme leaves the counselors office, the camera focuses on how sad and
confused she is. Marieme walks to the side of the street and sits on a curb that wraps
around into a neighborhood that looks like the ghetto. The music plays in the
background, and the hours go by. The sun sets and Marieme still sat on the curb,
looking into the distance. At this point in the movie, three important characters walk up
to Marieme. The leader of the group begins to talk and with an inquisitive look, she asks
Marieme her name. Marieme does not answer and the tall dark girl places her hand on
her hip and begins to say: My name is Kader, this is Lady and this is Sweety.
Marieme was not interested, her face was straight and she showed no type of interest in
the girls. Kader continued: whatever, you can sit your ass there and do nothing, but we
are leaving this city for the night, come if you want. Marieme had still refused to listen
or acknowledge any of the girls. The director (talk about how she is interested in the

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moments). This was a moment in the film that gave the viewers the sense that Marieme
wanted to see what the girls had to offer. The girls started to walk away, and Marieme
kept looking back as if she was fighting a battle in her head. Although Marieme had no
idea what she was getting herself into, there was a sudden quickness to get up and join
the girls. The scene had blacked out, the music had stopped and this was where all
Mariemes dreams and hopes for the future became ignored.
How come you look like your concerned or something, wipe that smirk off your
face and come her let me give you some lipstick, we going out tonight. Sweety, tells
Marieme this as she looks at her body in the mirror. In this scene, the girls are in a hotel
and they are all dressed in short, provocative dresses that they shoplifted from the strip
mall. The scene shows the girls getting ready and talking amongst each other. Marieme
seems apprehensive. Marieme opens her mouth for the first time since she met the girls
and says: I cannot believe I am wearing this, is this what you value. Sciamma talks
about Marieme and her role as a character in the article Girlhood: A Rare Close-up for
Young Black Actresses in French Cinema. I wanted to create the sense of what it feels
like to be a girl, growing up, showing the struggle to fit in with peers (Sciamma). It was
not normal for Marieme to say such a thing. Kader, Sweety, and Lady all gave Marieme
a look of disgust. During this part of the film, it was relevant that Marieme learned and
understood what she was not supposed to say. The confused look she gave the girls
suggested to viewers that she was innocent, not knowing what she said was an offense
to the girls. (talk about her coming out of her shell). *ba Marieme did not know that the
relationship she had with the girls was on a hierarchical basis. Marieme was simply a

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part of the group, she was to follow what Kader said and not say anything that seemed
to be out of space. Kader yelled: You shut the hell up Marieme, you just came here
dont say stuff like that unless you want to be stuck on a curb alone again.
At the halfway point in the film, it starts to feel like Marieme forgets who she used
to be. As the scenes continue, Marieme listens and follows everything the girls around
her say to do. Marieme regularly goes to parties, sleeps around, and even changes her
name. Marieme starts to act like the girls, she changes her hair and she is looking less
like that little girl who sat in the counselors office. (find source and talk about influence
friends have). Marieme laughs a lot but her laughter always follows a concerned look.
The girls entice her to go out and drink until she cannot see. They even go as far as to
encourage Marieme to seek a boy that lives in the projects they hang out in. When
Marieme sees one of Kaders friend become pregnant, she goes home and breaks
down. Marieme begins to scream out in her room as she slams her body against the
discolored wall. I hate my life, WHY did I have to meet these girls. What have I done.
Marieme screams at the top of her lungs for a full 60 seconds. When Marieme realizes
she is screaming, the vulnerability scares her and she begins to act like she is joking.
(Talk about fooling yourself being fake). Lady walks into the room and Marieme quickly
wipes up her tears. Lady says: Are you cryi--, you know what, whatever, who cares. . .
Kader is waiting for us outside. As Marieme gets up from her room floor, she stands up.
Suddenly, Marieme ignores her hurt, brushes herself off and follows behind Lady.
After this point in the film, it is clear that Marieme wants better. Her positive
mindset has been bogged down by negative influences and the norms and values of her

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peers. In her mind, Marieme knew that she did not agree with the stuff she involved
herself in, but it had become hard for her to let go. It came to a point of no return, she
was afraid of what Kader had to say. She was afraid that she would be doing something
wrong; she did not want to be true to who she was. Lady screamed: hurry up M! Kader
wants us, you have got to see this. When Marieme ran in the street, closer to the girls
she begins to break down in tears. The camera faced a group of young black girls.
These young girls were all fighting one another. Fists were being thrown, and the
bickering was extremely loud. A street fight was going on in the very parking lot of
Mariemes dream high school. Kader, Lady and Sweety all began to welcome Marieme
as she was crying. Ignoring her tears, Sweety screamed: Come on! Who you cheerin
for-- . . . Aye, hit her in the damn head! Marieme composed herself and began cheering
and yelling as she watched a girl get beat up. Marieme was so confused, her emotions
were all over the place and she did not know what to think or what to do. When the fight
was over, Marieme stared at the girl lying on the ground. Kader and the girls were
laughing and walking away, but Marieme stayed behind. Kader began to yell at
Marieme, but Marieme did not listen. The film gives viewers flashbacks to the beginning
scene of the movie. It showed how happy she was, how innocent and unguided she
used to be. The scene where Marieme sits on the curb is shown. This part of the film
reminds Marieme who she used to be and how she used to dream of the future. No
way, I am not going with you guys! The girls scoffed and spit at Marieme, they were
shocked and called her names. As they walked away, once again, the tears began to
flow. Marieme kneels down next to the beat up girl on the floor gives her a hug; she is
unconscious and Marieme is the only person to stay behind.

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All the different scenes in the movie Girlhood, speaks great lengths in regards to
peer pressure. The affect that individuals have on a single person is eye-opening.
Mariemes positive mindset took a huge turn when she met Kader and the girls.
Throughout the movie, it became easy to identify and connect with Marieme. Her
willingness to be great in a place where the norms and values did not fit her own,
lingered in my head as I watched her as a character go through many hardships and
pain. In a journal on European review of social psychology, it is stated that culture is
something that is learned. The journal talks about societal environments and humans
culture and norm. These factors prove to be significant and important for the growth and
development of a person. Culture and its norms is a human universal, a good
enough solution to universal needs. It is also a specific meaning-making framework, a
mindset that influences what feels fluent, what is attended to, which goals or mental
procedures are salient (Oysterman 3). This quote reigns true when we take a look at
Mariemes life and her character. Marieme wanted to be good enough, so she followed
the crowd. When Marieme backs down from the girls and speaks up for herself, she feel
as if she is doing something wrong. She felt different, and I say she should have. Her
difference was powerful and her strength to face the problem was courageous.
In the last scene, Marieme is shown with a face of determination. Marieme takes
her smart phone and she throws it across her room. It was a moment in the movie that
lifted the spirits of the viewers. Marieme [f]inally decides to take matters into her own
hands (Dallas). Marieme runs as far as she can, and she comes to a hill. She is finally
free, and she wants better. She stands on the hill, and determination is the only thing on

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Mariemes mind. The camera focuses on the backside of Marieme, suggesting that she
is a different person, the person who she wants to be. Marieme takes off and runs away
into the unknown distance. This powerful end of the film scene gives the solution to the
problems Marieme faces. Cultural norms and values may have an effect, but they do
not define you. Marieme shows her willingness to continue her journey in finding herself.
The scene of determination reminds viewers of the difficulties she faced and the
problems she went through. All these setbacks seemed to be the core of her
comeback; the problems had gone away and the positive ending to the story is a ending
of hope.