The Hedgehog

Having read Muriel Barbery's book, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I was rather curious about "The Hedgehog" ("Le Hérisson"), the film adaptation by director Mona Achache. It focuses on Paloma Josse (Garance Le Guillermic), an overly precocious 11-year-old girl who decides to end her life on her twelfth birthday. As she plots her impending suicide she befriends Renée Michel (Josiane Balasko), the prickly and grumpy concierge of Paloma's luxury Parisian apartment building, and Kakuro Ozu (Togo Igawa), the mysterious and wealthy Japanese tenant.

Josiane Balasko and Garance Le Guillermic in "The Hedgehog." Courtesy of Neoclassics Films Ltd. 2011.

As Paloma sneaks around the entire building videotaping everyone for her personal diary, she soon discovers a few warm layers beneath Renée's dour veneer. Slowly but surely, we get an intimate look into the widow's lonely life behind the socially insignificant facade. Likewise, Kakuro wasn't fooled by her chilly distance and initiates a gentle, chaste courtship with the reluctant Renée.

Josiane Balasko and Togo Igawa in "The Hedgehog." Courtesy of Neoclassics Films Ltd. 2011.

Despite the twee, glossy veneer I really enjoyed Balasko's finely nuanced performance - she did a fantastic job on the namesake character. I wasn't totally convinced by Le Guillermic's portrayal of Paloma, but she did a good job nonetheless. It's really difficult (and impossible) to adhere to the original material faithfully within 100 minutes, yet I still found the film quite enjoyable.

Now playing at the Clay Theatre and Rafael Film Center.