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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

The Hedgehog, a 2009 French film loosely based on the novel The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, is an evenly-paced, bittersweet story with a terrific performance by a child lead. Gloom and hilarity intertwine in a tale that falls short of being something transcendent.

No one wants to live in a fishbowl. Certainly no one less so than 11-year-old Paloma Josse (Garance Le Guillermic), who lives in an exclusive apartment building in Paris with her rich, yet dysfunctional family. Bored with life, she decides to kill herself in 165 days, when she will turn 12. In the meantime, she starts making a film to show how absurd life is.

Paloma’s sister-in-misery is the building’s 54-year-old concierge, Renee Michel (Josiane Balasko, French Twist). She’s a drab woman who hides her love for literature with a perpetual look of hatred. There’s also a deep sense of self-loathing behind her eyes. It’s as if her soul is waiting to be set free from its mortal coil so that it might have a better existence elsewhere.

With Paloma feeling ignored by her parents and Renee feeling ignored by tenants, the stage is set for the arrival of Kakuro Ozu (Togo Igawa, The Last Samurai, Memoirs of a Geisha), a wealthy and charming businessman with a fresh outlook on life. He encourages Paloma’s intelligence to shine through, and he helps Renee to see herself as something more than a caretaker.

The Hedgehog contains a nice mix of comedic dialogue and touching drama. Le Guillermic is wonderful as a little girl who comes off as smarter and wiser than most of the adults around her. That’s not a new concept by any means. However, despite her age and relative inexperience, she delivers her lines with all the virtuosity of a seasoned actress. Her serious observations on life generate some good laughs, even though they are drawn from a place of loneliness and pain.

Balasko does a good turn by only allowing us into her inner self by small increments at a time. However, her relationship with Ozu, although cute, is also nothing we haven’t seen before. Igawa fills his role with grace, but it’s a performance to be forgotten by the next day.

The Hedgehog is entertaining, but not enlightening.

On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing, The Hedgehog receives a B-.

The Hedgehog is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 106 minutes.

Now showing through September 29 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square
4050 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.