Maïmouna Doucouré

French film director and screenwriter of Senegalese descent, best known for the 2020 film Mignonnes (Cuties).

Mignonnes (Cuties) was distributed by Netflix and sparked a widespread controversy and petitions accusing the film of sexualizing children. The film explores themes of childhood, cultural clash, family and parental absence.

The provided review summarizes Mignonnes (Cuties), focusing on an 11-year-old girl's struggles between family tradition and external pressures. The reviewer defends the film against claims of sexualization, reading it as a sad, tender portrayal of childhood and parental absence. Praise is given to the direction, long takes, and the performances of the young actresses.

For:Readers interested in social-issue dramas, coming-of-age films, and debates about representation