A Real Young Girl 2001

Alice Bonnard, a 14-year-old girl, returns to her home in the picturesque Landes forest for the summer of 1963 after spending time at a boarding school in France. This journey sparks vivid reflections on her experiences at school, where she often found herself bored, leading to moments of self-exploration. One particularly shocking memory involves her using a spoon in a deeply personal moment of curiosity.

As fate would have it, her father employs a young man named Jim, who captivates Alice at first sight. She’s drawn into a world of intense sexual fantasies, one of which includes a disorienting scenario where Jim binds her to the ground with barbed wire, attempting to introduce an earthworm into her body. When the earthworm fails to fit, Jim resorts to tearing it apart and placing the pieces in her pubic hair, a scene that reflects Alice’s tumultuous internal struggles.

Alice’s summer takes a disturbing turn during a carnival ride when a middle-aged man exposes himself to her. This encounter leads her to a frightening realization about her own father, as she finds herself imagining his naked body. Stepping into a realm of unforeseen intimacy, she decides to unveil herself to Jim, culminating in a mutual act of masturbation, an experience fraught with embarrassment for Alice.

The narrative escalates when Alice uncovers her father’s affair, amidst Jim’s increasing pressure on her to engage in sexual activity. However, fate intervenes dramatically when Jim meets an untimely death due to a trap set up by Alice’s father, designed for wild boars that threaten his maize crops. This shocking conclusion not only signifies a tragic end for Jim but also leaves Alice grappling with the complexities of desire, betrayal, and the painful journey toward understanding her own sexuality.