The Little Sister

Directed by Hafsia Herzi
France
2025
106 mins
This year’s Cannes Queer Palm and Best Actress winning film showcases a remarkable breakout performance in this deeply moving portrait of a French-Algerian woman attempting to reconcile her sexuality with her cultural identity.

Grounded by astounding lead performances, Hafsia Herzi’s film gently navigates the internal conflict between sexuality and religion. Fatima ((incredible newcomer Nadia Melliti)) is at the precipice of graduating high school. She dresses and acts like “one of the boys”, but gets into a fight one day when her sexuality is challenged. The altercation triggers an emotional asthma attack for Fatima – which serendipitously leads to an unexpected meet-cute with a Korean nurse, Ji-Na (Ji-Min Park; Return to Seoul, SFF 2022). While she dives into the dating apps, partaking in chatty drinks and steamy hook-ups, Fatima slowly falls in love with Ji-Na. But she is compelled to find a way to square this newfound love – for Ji-Na, for herself, and for dating women – with her Muslim faith.

It’s an elegant directorial performance from Herzi.
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Tickets

Thu 12 June 2025, 8:50pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 2
Sat 14 June 2025, 4pm
Ritz Randwick - Cinema 3
  • Program Strand
  • Original Title
    LA PETITE DERNIERE
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 18+
  • Country
    France, Germany
  • Language
    In French with English subtitles
  • Director
    Hafsia Herzi
  • Producer
    Julie Billy, Naomi Denamur
  • Cast
    Nadia Melliti, Park Ji-Min, Amina Ben Mohamed
  • Screenwriter
    Hafsia Herzi
  • Cinematographer
    Jérémie Attard
  • Editor
    Géraldine Mangenot
  • Genre
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment
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