The Little Sister

Directed by Hafsia Herzi

France

2025

106 mins

Unclassified 18+

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

Past Event

Dendy Newtown - Cinema 2

Sat 14 June 2025, 4pm

Past Event

Ritz Cinemas Randwick - Cinema 3

Ritz Randwick - Cinema 3

See more, save more with a Flexipass or Youth Pass

Program Strand
Late Announce – Special Screenings
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
Cannes Selected, LGBTQIA+ Films, Award Winner, Women Directors, Women’s Stories, Romance
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Company Credits
Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

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