Showing @ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 12 Nov only

Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin / France / 2011 / 86 min

17 Girls charts the unlikely progress of seventeen teenage girls from a provincial and leisurely town in France, who, after their ringleader becomes pregnant, decide to follow suit. What emerges is an interesting power play featuring a predominantly female cast – where teen romance is overlooked in lieu of friendship and solidarity as they face this storm of controversy.

While the depiction of friendship between the four young protagonists is heartwarming, there is a distinct lack of positive male characters. We are left with a plot which is too often left unexplained and poorly justified; the decision of all these girls to become pregnant in the first place is not so smoothly glossed over, and lacks subtlety. A stunning and truthful central performance by Louise Grinberg gives charisma and urgency to the film; she is understated and exact in her portrayal of the damaged Camille. Through her eyes we explore the themes of motherhood and entrapment, where contemporary values shift between individual drive and the need for a family. 17 Girls is an entertaining ride, with excellent performances from its young cast. However, even they cannot hide the weaknesses of the script, held together only by its intriguing subject matter and captivating leads.

Showing as part of the French Film Festival UK 2012.