How it reminded me of my own childhood!! Laure obviously wants to belong to the group, even to be a leader and more importantly to be liked in this new environment. Sadly the simplest way to achieve this for her is to pretend to be a boy (she did not "intend" to do it but played a game facing the mistake of Lisa). Yes, she could have go play footballs a girl but most probably the boys would not allow her because she is a girl or exclude her if she wouldn't be good enough (when she starts playing she is still quite insecure but accepted) Lisa explains she wants to play but was "excluded". Laure enjoys "boy's stuff"because they simply are fun: driving a car; or practical: having short hair. But guess what, she is not expected to do so as a girl! I believe this movie has nothing to do with trans-gender. It is about how society since the childhood reduces girls (and boys) to a particular role or look and makes it difficult for them to have individual preferences. Neither am I convinced that Laure is "in love" with Lisa. It goes with her role play and it gives her some attention. Laure is going to enter in the puberty, she is still a child and there is at her age no visible difference between the body of a boy or a girl..which the movie really points out. Except this tiny one thing that she can still fake in her speedo. She even forgets it until she has to pie....The only way to "see" a difference is to take off her pants! She is even physically stronger. But she already has to fit into the box of what girls do and don't: wear a dress for example. Why??? I believe she pretends to be a boy because she knows that she can still do it, in a couple of year she will have to let behind her fake attribute (she puts the penis with her child teeth as a souvenir of her childhood) and become a woman. The image of her pregnant mother is reminding her of the real and only difference between genders. As I wrote, I personally was a Tomboy because I wanted to play the same games as boys. Remember the film takes place in France and you can ask the female player of the best french female football team (OL) but many still think that you need a penis to kick a ball there... Childhood is just the beginning of facing the sad reality: what you have between your legs is going to determine your rights and duties. Laure has the merit to defy the rule because she gets the opportunity...I feel sad of how she gets punish for it. I feel this movie is totally realistic. I hope and wish tit will open the eye on this kind of sexist behavior that adult unconsciously encourage. And BTW I found the 2 sisters acted brilliantly!
