Maimouna Doucouré, a French director of Senegalese origins who grew up in a social housing project in Paris and started her career with a screenwriting contest, isn’t one to buckle under any type of pressure or challenge.
She certainly didn’t dwell on the misguided backlash to her film “Cuties.” The controversy was provoked by Netflix’s promotional material for her Sundance prizewinning feature debut, which aimed to shed light the sexualization of children. In her sophomore outing, “Hawa,” Doucouré embarked on another challenging project, a modern-day fable boasting a cast entirely made up of non-professionals, including the celebrated Malian singer-songwriter Oumou Sangaré, astronaut Thomas Pesquet and popular singer Yseult.
As with “Cuties,” which earned Fathia Youssouf a Cesar award for best promising actress, the Amazon original film “Hawa” is headlined by Sania Halifa, a newcomer who delivers a robust performance. Halifa, a teenager with albinism, plays the title role,...
She certainly didn’t dwell on the misguided backlash to her film “Cuties.” The controversy was provoked by Netflix’s promotional material for her Sundance prizewinning feature debut, which aimed to shed light the sexualization of children. In her sophomore outing, “Hawa,” Doucouré embarked on another challenging project, a modern-day fable boasting a cast entirely made up of non-professionals, including the celebrated Malian singer-songwriter Oumou Sangaré, astronaut Thomas Pesquet and popular singer Yseult.
As with “Cuties,” which earned Fathia Youssouf a Cesar award for best promising actress, the Amazon original film “Hawa” is headlined by Sania Halifa, a newcomer who delivers a robust performance. Halifa, a teenager with albinism, plays the title role,...
- 12/9/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
After last year’s scandal over Roman Polanski’s director win, the 46th Cesar Awards, France’s highest film honors, which took place on Friday in the presence of nominees, has been the subject of vitriolic criticism from industry figures.
Some have claimed that the spectacle was so vulgar that it has tarnished the image of French cinema and will discourage audiences from returning to theaters when they finally reopen. But, in fact, the awards were a fitting encapsulation of an industry that’s increasingly at odds with itself.
The 2021 edition marked a new era for the Cesar Awards, which is now headed by Veronique Cayla, former president of Arte, and vice chaired by Eric Toledano, co-director of “The Intouchables,” who took over from Alain Terzian following an industry revolt over the lack of transparency and democracy within the institution. With the last six months, the operating model and corporate...
Some have claimed that the spectacle was so vulgar that it has tarnished the image of French cinema and will discourage audiences from returning to theaters when they finally reopen. But, in fact, the awards were a fitting encapsulation of an industry that’s increasingly at odds with itself.
The 2021 edition marked a new era for the Cesar Awards, which is now headed by Veronique Cayla, former president of Arte, and vice chaired by Eric Toledano, co-director of “The Intouchables,” who took over from Alain Terzian following an industry revolt over the lack of transparency and democracy within the institution. With the last six months, the operating model and corporate...
- 3/16/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Maïmouna Doucouré's first feature, drawing on her own experiences as a child, Cuties caused tremendous controversy when it first reached screens. It has since won a César for its star Fathia Youssouf, who was named Best Newcomer. There's no doubt that the subject matter is difficult, dealing with issues around preteen sexuality, but the very fact that we struggle to have necessary conversations around this topic is one of the concerns it addresses, and any danger that it might titillate some adult viewers has to be considered in light of that fact that similar material is available in considerable quantities online - usually without any such challenging demand for empathy with the youngsters it depicts.
Youssouf stars as Amy, an 11-year-old girl from a Senegalese community whose strict religious upbringing clashes with the values of mainstream French society. Like any kid that age, she's trying to find her niche in the.
Youssouf stars as Amy, an 11-year-old girl from a Senegalese community whose strict religious upbringing clashes with the values of mainstream French society. Like any kid that age, she's trying to find her niche in the.
- 3/14/2021
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Albert Dopontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” (“Adieu Les Cons”) has won the top prizes at France’s Cesar Awards, taking six awards including Best Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.
The black tragicomedy is about a terminally ill woman and a suicidal man on the run who team up in an attempt to locate the child the woman hasn’t seen in almost 30 years. It also won awards for Dupontel’s screenplay and for its cinematography and set design.
The only other film to win more than one award was the documentary “Adolescents,” which won in the Best Documentary and Best Editing categories.
“Bye Bye Morons” went into Friday’s Cesar Awards, France’s version of the Oscars, with 12 nominations, second only to Frederic Niedermeyer’s “Love Affair(s)”. That film won a single award, for supporting actress Emilie Dequenne.
“Two of Us,” France’s entry in this year...
The black tragicomedy is about a terminally ill woman and a suicidal man on the run who team up in an attempt to locate the child the woman hasn’t seen in almost 30 years. It also won awards for Dupontel’s screenplay and for its cinematography and set design.
The only other film to win more than one award was the documentary “Adolescents,” which won in the Best Documentary and Best Editing categories.
“Bye Bye Morons” went into Friday’s Cesar Awards, France’s version of the Oscars, with 12 nominations, second only to Frederic Niedermeyer’s “Love Affair(s)”. That film won a single award, for supporting actress Emilie Dequenne.
“Two of Us,” France’s entry in this year...
- 3/13/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
46th ceremony unfolded amid growing anger within French film industry over cinema closures.
Albert Dupontel’s Bye Bye Morons topped the awards at a politically-charged 46th Césars ceremony on Friday evening (March 12), marked by growing anger within the French film industry over the ongoing closure of cinemas and other cultural spaces as part of anti-Covid-19 measures.
Bye Bye Morons clinched seven Césars including best film, director, cinematography (Alexis Kavyrchine), best original screenplay (Dupontel), best supporting actor (Nicolas Marié), best production design (Carlos Conti) and the fledgeling César des Lycéens, which is voted on by 1,500 high school students.
Dupontel, who previously...
Albert Dupontel’s Bye Bye Morons topped the awards at a politically-charged 46th Césars ceremony on Friday evening (March 12), marked by growing anger within the French film industry over the ongoing closure of cinemas and other cultural spaces as part of anti-Covid-19 measures.
Bye Bye Morons clinched seven Césars including best film, director, cinematography (Alexis Kavyrchine), best original screenplay (Dupontel), best supporting actor (Nicolas Marié), best production design (Carlos Conti) and the fledgeling César des Lycéens, which is voted on by 1,500 high school students.
Dupontel, who previously...
- 3/13/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Albert Dupontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” won seven prizes, including best film and director, at the 46th Cesar Awards which took place as an in-person, yet socially distanced event at the Olympia concert hall in Paris on March 12. The ceremony was held in the presence of nominees only.
“Bye Bye Morons” also won awards for best supporting actor for Nicolas Mairé, original screenplay, cinematography and set design, as well as a prize voted on by high school students. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout. Efira,
Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s),” which was nominated for 13 awards, picked up the best supporting actress nod for Emilie Dequenne.
The best actor nod went to Sami Bouajila for his performance in Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s Tunisian drama “A Son.
“Bye Bye Morons” also won awards for best supporting actor for Nicolas Mairé, original screenplay, cinematography and set design, as well as a prize voted on by high school students. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout. Efira,
Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s),” which was nominated for 13 awards, picked up the best supporting actress nod for Emilie Dequenne.
The best actor nod went to Sami Bouajila for his performance in Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s Tunisian drama “A Son.
- 3/12/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The biggest night on the French film calendar has begun. The 46th César Awards, France’s top film honor, kicked off its mostly virtual ceremony Friday night. French actress Marina Fois (Polisse) and actor Roschdy Zem (The Cold Light of Day) are hosting the event before a small, masked audience in Paris, and the show is being broadcast live on French network Canal Plus.
The first award of the night, for best female newcomer, went to Fathia Youssouf for her debut performance in Maïmouna Doucouré’s Cuties, the Netflix film which became a cause célèbre after it was targeted by online trolls. The 14-year-old Youssouf received ...
The first award of the night, for best female newcomer, went to Fathia Youssouf for her debut performance in Maïmouna Doucouré’s Cuties, the Netflix film which became a cause célèbre after it was targeted by online trolls. The 14-year-old Youssouf received ...
- 3/12/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Emmanuel Mouret’s Les Choses Qu’On Dit, Les Choses Qu’On Fait, aka Love Affair(s), leads France’s César Award nominations with a total 13 including each of the top acting categories as well as Best Director and Best Film. The official 2020 Cannes Film Festival selection is followed by Albert Dupontel’s comedy/drama Adieu Les Cons (Bye Bye Morons) and François Ozon’s Eté 85 (Summer Of 85) with 12 each. The latter was released locally last summer and played Toronto in September.
Other titles to make the cut this morning include the Oscar shortlisted Two Of Us (Deux) from Filippo Meneghetti with Best Actress nods for leads Martine Chevallier and Barbara Sukowa as well as Best Original Screenplay and Best Debut Feature.
In the Foreign Film category are Sam Mendes’ 1917, Todd Haynes’ Dark Waters, Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round (also Oscar shortlisted on Tuesday), Jan Komasa’s La Communion...
Other titles to make the cut this morning include the Oscar shortlisted Two Of Us (Deux) from Filippo Meneghetti with Best Actress nods for leads Martine Chevallier and Barbara Sukowa as well as Best Original Screenplay and Best Debut Feature.
In the Foreign Film category are Sam Mendes’ 1917, Todd Haynes’ Dark Waters, Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round (also Oscar shortlisted on Tuesday), Jan Komasa’s La Communion...
- 2/10/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affairs” is leading the nominations for the Cesar Awards, France’s top film honors. Nominations were announced online on Wednesday.
The film, which was part of Cannes 2020’s official selection, weaves together a series of romantic tales exploring love, friendship and infidelity with an ensemble cast including Camelia Jordana, Niels Schneider, Vincent Macaigne and Julia Piaton. “Love Affairs” earned 13 awards nominations, including for best film, director, as well as nods for Jordana, Schneider, Macaigne and Piaton. The film previously won best film at the Lumieres Awards.
Meanwhile, Albert Dupontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” and Francois Ozon’s “Summer of 85” are each nominated for 12 Cesar Awards, including best film and best director. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout.
The film, which was part of Cannes 2020’s official selection, weaves together a series of romantic tales exploring love, friendship and infidelity with an ensemble cast including Camelia Jordana, Niels Schneider, Vincent Macaigne and Julia Piaton. “Love Affairs” earned 13 awards nominations, including for best film, director, as well as nods for Jordana, Schneider, Macaigne and Piaton. The film previously won best film at the Lumieres Awards.
Meanwhile, Albert Dupontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” and Francois Ozon’s “Summer of 85” are each nominated for 12 Cesar Awards, including best film and best director. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout.
- 2/10/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Awards ceremony will take place on January 19, 2021.
Italian director Filippo Meneghetti’s debut feature Two Of Us leads the nominations in the 26th edition of France’s Lumière awards, which were unveiled online today (December 14).
The awards, which are voted on by some 130 international correspondents hailing from 40 countries, are France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes.
In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has delayed numerous releases this year, they have retained their traditional time slot and the awards ceremony will take place on January 19, 2021, in line with previous years.
Meneghetti’s Two Of Us is also France’s submission...
Italian director Filippo Meneghetti’s debut feature Two Of Us leads the nominations in the 26th edition of France’s Lumière awards, which were unveiled online today (December 14).
The awards, which are voted on by some 130 international correspondents hailing from 40 countries, are France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes.
In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has delayed numerous releases this year, they have retained their traditional time slot and the awards ceremony will take place on January 19, 2021, in line with previous years.
Meneghetti’s Two Of Us is also France’s submission...
- 12/14/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Cuties (Netflix)
Starring Fathia Youssouf as Amy, Médina El Aidi-Azouni as Angelica, Maïmouna Gueye as Mariam, Esther Gohourou as Coumba, Ilanah Cami-Goursolas as Jess, Myriam Hamma as Yasmine, Mbissine Therese Diop as the aunt
Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré
A huge, and as it turns out utterly misguided, debate has sprung up around this beautiful, sensitive depiction of an 11-year Senegalese black girl’s self-generated growth from childhood to maturity.
The film has been accused of ‘sexualizing’ children when in fact it does just the opposite. By showing the 11-year old protagonist Amy (the wonderful Fathia Youssouf) descend into premature adulthood the film actually crosses the line in pursuit of very uncomfortable questions regarding paedophilic reality shows where young children are exposed to a rampant voyeurism by judges (who should know better) giving points to girls for pouting and wriggling, thrusting and heaving imaginary bosoms.
So please don’t shoot the messenger.
Starring Fathia Youssouf as Amy, Médina El Aidi-Azouni as Angelica, Maïmouna Gueye as Mariam, Esther Gohourou as Coumba, Ilanah Cami-Goursolas as Jess, Myriam Hamma as Yasmine, Mbissine Therese Diop as the aunt
Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré
A huge, and as it turns out utterly misguided, debate has sprung up around this beautiful, sensitive depiction of an 11-year Senegalese black girl’s self-generated growth from childhood to maturity.
The film has been accused of ‘sexualizing’ children when in fact it does just the opposite. By showing the 11-year old protagonist Amy (the wonderful Fathia Youssouf) descend into premature adulthood the film actually crosses the line in pursuit of very uncomfortable questions regarding paedophilic reality shows where young children are exposed to a rampant voyeurism by judges (who should know better) giving points to girls for pouting and wriggling, thrusting and heaving imaginary bosoms.
So please don’t shoot the messenger.
- 9/16/2020
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
Opinion'Cuties', a French drama that revolves around a group of pre-teen girls, ran into controversy recently as it was accused of sexualising them. Geetika MantriWhen I was around six or seven years old, I remember wearing a long skirt and top, looking in the mirror and trying to dance to ‘Chamma chamma’ from the 1998 Bollywood film China Gate. Starring Urmila Matondkar, 'Chamma chamma' is by all means an ‘item song’. While trying to copy Urmila’s moves, could my dancing be perceived as suggestive? Sure. But was I trying to be sexy or feeling sexual? No. Cuties, a French drama that revolves around four pre-teen girls, ran into controversy recently as it was accused of sexualising young girls. The film, the first feature by Maïmouna Doucouré, released on Netflix recently, and stars Fathia Youssouf, Médina El Aidi-Azouni, Esther Gohourou, Ilanah Cami-Goursolas and Maïmouna Gueye. Fathia plays 11-year-old Amy, a Muslim Senegalese immigrant with orthodox upbringing,...
- 9/14/2020
- by Geetika
- The News Minute
“Cuties” director Maïmouna Doucouré has broken her silence in an interview with Zora amid escalating backlash that claims her award-winning coming-of-age drama sexualizes its young actresses. Outrage over “Cuties” erupted August 20 after Netflix debuted a poster for the film that featured its child stars making suggestive dance poses in revealing outfits. The poster led to accusations the film sexualizes its stars, when in reality “Cuties” openly criticizes the ways in which society puts pressure on young girls to be overtly sexual.
While Netflix apologized for inappropriately marketing the film, the September 9 debut of “Cuties” on the streaming platform has caused backlash to explode on social media. Rallying calls for Netflix subscribers to delete their accounts because of “Cuties” resulted in the Twitter hashtags #DeleteNetflix and #CancelNetflix becoming top trends in the U.S. on September 10. The renewed backlash forced Netflix to issue a follow-up statement defending the film.
“‘Cuties’ is...
While Netflix apologized for inappropriately marketing the film, the September 9 debut of “Cuties” on the streaming platform has caused backlash to explode on social media. Rallying calls for Netflix subscribers to delete their accounts because of “Cuties” resulted in the Twitter hashtags #DeleteNetflix and #CancelNetflix becoming top trends in the U.S. on September 10. The renewed backlash forced Netflix to issue a follow-up statement defending the film.
“‘Cuties’ is...
- 9/11/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
[Update: Netflix issued a statement saying “Cuties” is “a social commentary against the sexualization of young children” and encouraged critics to watch it.]
Controversial French film “Cuties” — about a young Senegalese girl in Paris who joins a “free-spirited dance clique” to escape family dysfunction — has spawned a new backlash against Netflix by critics who allege it goes over the line in portraying children in a sexualized manner.
The hashtag “#CancelNetflix” was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in the U.S. Thursday, after “Cuties” premiered Sept. 9 on Netflix.
A petition on Change.org calling on Netflix customers to cancel their subscriptions over “Cuties” and other content on the streaming service “that exploits children and creates a disturbing vibe,” currently has nearly 600,000 signers.
Criticism erupted in August over a promotional poster for “Cuties” depicting its young cast members in provocative poses and revealing costumes. Netflix at the time apologized for the image.
Controversial French film “Cuties” — about a young Senegalese girl in Paris who joins a “free-spirited dance clique” to escape family dysfunction — has spawned a new backlash against Netflix by critics who allege it goes over the line in portraying children in a sexualized manner.
The hashtag “#CancelNetflix” was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in the U.S. Thursday, after “Cuties” premiered Sept. 9 on Netflix.
A petition on Change.org calling on Netflix customers to cancel their subscriptions over “Cuties” and other content on the streaming service “that exploits children and creates a disturbing vibe,” currently has nearly 600,000 signers.
Criticism erupted in August over a promotional poster for “Cuties” depicting its young cast members in provocative poses and revealing costumes. Netflix at the time apologized for the image.
- 9/10/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s what Cuties, the debut feature from French-Senegalese filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, is: the story of an 11-year-old named Amy (Fathia Youssouf) who’s stuck watching her family fall apart and is trying to find a place for herself in the world. Here’s what it is not: a salacious bit of pedo-bait designed to appeal to baser instincts rather than better angels. To be fair, Netflix — the company that purchased this slice-of-life drama at Sundance, where Doucouré won the Best Directing award in the fest’s World Cinema Dramatic...
- 9/9/2020
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
You might not know her name as a household name yet, but trust us when we tell you that you’re about to. She’s the star of a very controversial new Netflix movie that did very well at Sundance. Her name is Fathia Youssouf, and she’s playing the lead role in the new Netflix movie, “Cuties,” about an 11-year-old girl who is exploring her sexuality. The entire concept has much of America up in arms asking Netflix to cancel the show, ban it, and asking people to then ban Netflix if they feel that a show that advertises an 11-year-old who
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Fathia Youssouf...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Fathia Youssouf...
- 8/25/2020
- by Tiffany Raiford
- TVovermind.com
On Aug. 20, Netflix issued an apology following a wave of backlash for its marketing materials promoting Maïmouna Doucouré's Cuties. The poster featured the French film's main characters - the titular dance troupe named Cuties - in spandex dance costumes of shorts and crop tops. The streamer's now-deleted movie description read that lead character Amy "becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew," and in an attempt to join them, she "starts to explore her femininity, defying her family's traditions."
Netflix Wtf Is This pic.twitter.com/v4FjZkH7K5
- koko (@littlewarior9) August 19, 2020
An uproar was immediately ignited over the poster's apparent sexualization of children, and the backlash equated Netflix's marketing with the film's intent. "We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties," a Netflix spokesperson said in the statement on Thursday. "It was not Ok, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance.
Netflix Wtf Is This pic.twitter.com/v4FjZkH7K5
- koko (@littlewarior9) August 19, 2020
An uproar was immediately ignited over the poster's apparent sexualization of children, and the backlash equated Netflix's marketing with the film's intent. "We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties," a Netflix spokesperson said in the statement on Thursday. "It was not Ok, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance.
- 8/21/2020
- by Mekishana Pierre
- Popsugar.com
As the backlash against Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties” continues to grow, actress Tessa Thompson and various film critics who have seen the coming-of-age drama are coming to its defense. Accusations that “Cuties” sexualizes pre-teen girls and encourages pedophilia erupted after Netflix debuted a poster for the film August 18 that featured young girls in skimpy dance outfits making suggestive, twerking-like poses.
Netflix issued an apology for its marketing of the film in an August 20 statement, saying, “We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for ‘Mignonnes’/’Cuties.’ It was not ok, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”
But the Netflix apology hasn’t stopped the escalating outrage against the film. Parents Television Council president Tom Winter condemned the movie in a statement by saying “the only motivation” for producing such a film...
Netflix issued an apology for its marketing of the film in an August 20 statement, saying, “We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for ‘Mignonnes’/’Cuties.’ It was not ok, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”
But the Netflix apology hasn’t stopped the escalating outrage against the film. Parents Television Council president Tom Winter condemned the movie in a statement by saying “the only motivation” for producing such a film...
- 8/21/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Netflix has apologized for and withdrawn a poster for its upcoming coming-of-age drama “Cuties.”
The artwork for the French-language film depicted four adolescent girls wearing revealing cheerleading outfits and posting provocatively, drawing backlash on social media for “sexualizing” little girls.
The Parents Television Council implored Netflix to remove the film, rated M, from its site.
“It is so revealing that the first major @netflix original to centre young Black girls hinges on explicitly sexualising 11 year old children,” Twitter user Claire Heuchan tweeted. “Whether it’s acting or music, a sexualised image is too often the price of mainstream success for Black women & girls. Disgraceful.”
It is so revealing that the first major @netflix original to centre young Black girls hinges on explicitly sexualising 11 year old children. Whether it’s acting or music, a sexualised image is too often the price of mainstream success for Black women & girls. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.
The artwork for the French-language film depicted four adolescent girls wearing revealing cheerleading outfits and posting provocatively, drawing backlash on social media for “sexualizing” little girls.
The Parents Television Council implored Netflix to remove the film, rated M, from its site.
“It is so revealing that the first major @netflix original to centre young Black girls hinges on explicitly sexualising 11 year old children,” Twitter user Claire Heuchan tweeted. “Whether it’s acting or music, a sexualised image is too often the price of mainstream success for Black women & girls. Disgraceful.”
It is so revealing that the first major @netflix original to centre young Black girls hinges on explicitly sexualising 11 year old children. Whether it’s acting or music, a sexualised image is too often the price of mainstream success for Black women & girls. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.
- 8/20/2020
- by Dave McNary and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has issued an apology for a poster for the film “Cuties” that was criticized online for sexualizing children.
The French-African film from director and writer Maïmouna Doucouré has been well-reviewed and won the Directing Award in the World Cinema Dramatic category at Sundance earlier this year. And while “Cuties” does not have content that sexualizes underage girls, the streamer admitted that the poster created by its PR team was “inappropriate.”
“We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for ‘Mignonnes/Cuties.’ It was not Ok, nor was it representative of this French film which premiered at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement.
Also Read: 'Cuties' Just Want to Dance in First Trailer for Sundance Darling on Netflix (Video)
The original American poster for “Cuties” issued by Netflix showed the four girls in the film striking suggestive...
The French-African film from director and writer Maïmouna Doucouré has been well-reviewed and won the Directing Award in the World Cinema Dramatic category at Sundance earlier this year. And while “Cuties” does not have content that sexualizes underage girls, the streamer admitted that the poster created by its PR team was “inappropriate.”
“We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for ‘Mignonnes/Cuties.’ It was not Ok, nor was it representative of this French film which premiered at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement.
Also Read: 'Cuties' Just Want to Dance in First Trailer for Sundance Darling on Netflix (Video)
The original American poster for “Cuties” issued by Netflix showed the four girls in the film striking suggestive...
- 8/20/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Netflix has issued a statement apologizing for the marketing around its upcoming original film “Cuties,” directed by French filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré. The movie world premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award and earned Doucouré a spot on IndieWire’s annual list of rising women directors to know. Netflix received backlash over the film after it debuted a poster for the film August 18 that many believed sexualized children.
“We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties,” a Netflix spokesperson said. “It was not Ok, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”
“Cuties” stars newcomer Fathia Youssouf as Amy, an 11-year-old girl who befriends a group of dancers at her school and begins growing into her burgeoning femininity. Amy’s coming of age...
“We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties,” a Netflix spokesperson said. “It was not Ok, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”
“Cuties” stars newcomer Fathia Youssouf as Amy, an 11-year-old girl who befriends a group of dancers at her school and begins growing into her burgeoning femininity. Amy’s coming of age...
- 8/20/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The Sundance drama “Cuties” is a coming-of-age story about a girl from Senegal, but her story is a universal one that shows that we’d all rather dance than have to grow up and face the world.
Netflix picked up the inspiring film “Cuties” out of Sundance from director and writer Maïmouna Doucouré after it won the Directing Award in the World Cinema Dramatic category at the festival earlier this year.
In “Cuties,” an 11-year-old girl from Senegal Amy tries to escape family dysfunction by joining a free-spirited dance clique named “Cuties.” The group stands in stark contrast to her mother’s traditional values, and she soon becomes aware of her own femininity well beyond her years through dance. She soon inspires the girls to embrace more sensual dance moves as part of their routine even as she begins to face the realities of growing up, and they hope to...
Netflix picked up the inspiring film “Cuties” out of Sundance from director and writer Maïmouna Doucouré after it won the Directing Award in the World Cinema Dramatic category at the festival earlier this year.
In “Cuties,” an 11-year-old girl from Senegal Amy tries to escape family dysfunction by joining a free-spirited dance clique named “Cuties.” The group stands in stark contrast to her mother’s traditional values, and she soon becomes aware of her own femininity well beyond her years through dance. She soon inspires the girls to embrace more sensual dance moves as part of their routine even as she begins to face the realities of growing up, and they hope to...
- 8/18/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
"What are you doing, Amy? Who are you, Amy?" Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for an indie film titled Cuties, which originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The film marks the feature directorial debut of French-Senegalese filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, and it's a French feature that will be available streaming on Netflix in September. Amy, an 11 year old Senegalese girl, tries to escape family dysfunction by joining a free-spirited dance clique named "Cuties," growing up as they become aware of their own femininity through dance. The full cast includes Fathia Youssouf, Médina El Aidi, Esther Gohourou, Ilanah, Myriam Hamma, Demba Diaw, Maïmouna Gueye, and Therese M'Bissine Diop. Early reviews from Sundance say that "Cuties is a contemporary view into a fundamental change of life in a modern world of unknown circumstances and how to survive them." A film that will make you think. Here's the official...
- 8/18/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
“Cuties” director Maïmouna Doucouré says her film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last Thursday, mirrors her experience as a young girl, when she wanted to be a boy because of the “injustices” towards women she saw around her.
“I was born in France, I grew up there and this movie is about a lot of traditions I saw when I was young, because when I was a child, my dream was to be a boy,” Doucouré told TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman at the festival. “I didn’t want to be a girl because of a lot of injustices I saw around me. Because of that, I was praying [to] God at 6, 7 years old to make me a boy. I saw that the world could be better and easier as a guy.”
She added, “I grew up in both cultures — my parents are from Senegal and I also have the Western culture.
“I was born in France, I grew up there and this movie is about a lot of traditions I saw when I was young, because when I was a child, my dream was to be a boy,” Doucouré told TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman at the festival. “I didn’t want to be a girl because of a lot of injustices I saw around me. Because of that, I was praying [to] God at 6, 7 years old to make me a boy. I saw that the world could be better and easier as a guy.”
She added, “I grew up in both cultures — my parents are from Senegal and I also have the Western culture.
- 1/28/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties,” which plays in Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition and will then screen in the Berlinale’s Generation Kplus section, has been picked up by Netflix worldwide, excluding France. The film’s producer Zangro gave an exclusive interview to Variety about the film, and his next project.
“Cuties” is about the hyper-sexualization of pre-adolescent girls. It follows an 11-year-old girl of Senegalese origin, living in one of Paris’ poorest neighborhoods, who is raised in a pious tradition, but joins a group of young dancers who hope to twerk their way to stardom. Doucouré won Sundance’s Global Filmmaking Award in 2017 for the script.
Doucouré’s previous short film, “Maman(s),” about a girl being raised by two mothers in a polygamous family, was selected by nearly 200 festivals and won more than 60 awards in festivals including best short at Sundance, Toronto and the Césars.
Zangro...
“Cuties” is about the hyper-sexualization of pre-adolescent girls. It follows an 11-year-old girl of Senegalese origin, living in one of Paris’ poorest neighborhoods, who is raised in a pious tradition, but joins a group of young dancers who hope to twerk their way to stardom. Doucouré won Sundance’s Global Filmmaking Award in 2017 for the script.
Doucouré’s previous short film, “Maman(s),” about a girl being raised by two mothers in a polygamous family, was selected by nearly 200 festivals and won more than 60 awards in festivals including best short at Sundance, Toronto and the Césars.
Zangro...
- 1/14/2020
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.