A Real Young Girl is a French coming-of-age film directed by Catherine Breillat, released in 1976. The film follows the teenage girl Alice, played by Charlotte Alexandra, as she grapples with her burgeoning sexuality and explores her desires against the backdrop of rural France in the 1960s.
Alice is a restless and rebellious girl who yearns to break free from the boredom and restrictions of her provincial life. She lusts after Jim, played by Hiram Keller, a handsome young sawmill worker who represents everything she desires. Alice becomes increasingly fixated on her sexual desires and begins to experiment with her body, indulging in masturbation and using objects such as a carrot for sexual gratification.
The film explores Alice's awakening sexuality in frank and explicit detail, reflecting Breillat's own experiences growing up as a young woman in a conservative society. A Real Young Girl is a raw and honest portrayal of adolescent sexuality, challenging and subverting traditional gender roles and societal norms.
The film was considered controversial upon its release, with some critics finding its explicit sexuality shocking and distasteful. However, it has since become a cult classic and is regarded as an important work of feminist and avant-garde cinema.
