Bande de filles

Girlhood follows Marieme, a 16-year-old African-French teenager living in a poor Paris suburb, as she joins a group of free-spirited girls, led by Lady, and transforms her life with the help of her new friends. Marieme struggles academically and faces abuse at home, but finds a sense of freedom and belonging with the gang. As she becomes more integrated, she begins to act and dress like them, even going so far as to bind her breasts and wear loose clothing. Karidja Touré, as Marieme, and the rest of the cast deliver powerful performances in this coming-of-age drama that challenges conceptions of race, gender, and class.