Four year old Ponette loses her mother in a car crash and has to cope with the loss. Her pain is great, and she finds little support from the other adults around her. Her father seems very confused and drives off to some undefined place very soon after the accident. His conversations with her make him seem pushy and scared, he is generally unable to take care of her. Every adult seems to have a different opinion about what happens to people when they die, and so do the children she meets at school.
Ponette obviously doesn't understand what has happened and tries to conjure her mother back into life. The other children tell her horrible stories or are completely insensitive at some times, but at other moments some make good friends. I was amazed by this movie: I much admired the brilliant acting and the very understandable psychology at work in everything that transpired.
But then suddenly, in the last ten minutes of the movie, something happens that just doesn't ring true. I won't give away the details for those who are prepared to be disappointed and want to see the film to the end; but I can tell you it will be a happy end (albeit not for me), for Ponette suddenly undergoes a transformation after which she has found back her joy in life. The movie doesn't provide a clue as to why Ponette would suddenly be able to let go of her pain. It is not as if she has something terribly good to live for, nor has she learned to give her pain a place in her life. None of the religious questions that are touched in the story are answered, it is as if someone has pushed a switch to make her happy. I found the sudden abundance of morality and philosophy in the last few minutes very annoying as well. I was caring for this child! I didn't need to be told fancy phrases, just what really happened to poor Ponette...
Ponette obviously doesn't understand what has happened and tries to conjure her mother back into life. The other children tell her horrible stories or are completely insensitive at some times, but at other moments some make good friends. I was amazed by this movie: I much admired the brilliant acting and the very understandable psychology at work in everything that transpired.
But then suddenly, in the last ten minutes of the movie, something happens that just doesn't ring true. I won't give away the details for those who are prepared to be disappointed and want to see the film to the end; but I can tell you it will be a happy end (albeit not for me), for Ponette suddenly undergoes a transformation after which she has found back her joy in life. The movie doesn't provide a clue as to why Ponette would suddenly be able to let go of her pain. It is not as if she has something terribly good to live for, nor has she learned to give her pain a place in her life. None of the religious questions that are touched in the story are answered, it is as if someone has pushed a switch to make her happy. I found the sudden abundance of morality and philosophy in the last few minutes very annoying as well. I was caring for this child! I didn't need to be told fancy phrases, just what really happened to poor Ponette...