Little Girl

Sasha always knew she was meant to be a girl. Growing up in a body which did not belong to her was painful enough; she needed to do something about it – and fast. So at the tender age of three, when she was finally able to articulate her emotions, she came clean and told her parents the truth. But the matter did not end there. Over the next few months, the family would face the biggest challenge of their lives, getting Sasha’s school and society as a whole to accept her for who she really is.

Set in rural North-eastern France, Sébastien Lifshitz’s documentary Little Girl is a tender portrait of gender dysmorphia and the psychological impacts that this can have on the sufferer. Sasha’s parents want the best for their daughter. They support her desire to transition and seek the help she needs in order to make this dream come true. Though certain battles are won, others are lost. Our subject is rejected by many of her classmates, as well as a ballet teacher who removes the youngster from her lesson due to ideological conflicts.

The feature shows the struggles that transgender people face on a daily basis. There are some truly heartbreaking scenes that leave a lasting mark; the child’s first appointment with a psychologist is one of them. The other is a conversation that Sasha and her mother have which sees the girl tear up as she learns that she may soon have to change school. This documentary is a must-see. Beautifully filmed and delicately told, Little Girl is a cinematic experience that viewers will find hard to forget.

Ghazaleh Golpira

Little Girl is released nationwide on 25^th September 2020.

Watch the trailer for Little Girl here: