The Hedgehog – 7.8

A very French look at existence through the eyes, and videocamera, of 11-year-old Paloma, brilliantly acted by one Garance Le Guillermic, a “child actor” in physique only. Just as wonderful is the title character played by Josiane Balasko, a frumpy concierge who reads Tolstoy in private. While the ending alludes to Anna Karenina, I’m sure there were other nods to Russian novels along the way. But what I thought of was 400 Blows and even The Visitor, apartment-based movies devoid of special effects, just special people.