Cuties is a French coming-of-age drama film directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020. The film tells the story of Amy, an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant living in a rough Parisian housing project. She joins a group of girls who call themselves "the cuties", and who are preparing for a dance competition. However, the dance routines they practice are overly sexualized and inappropriate for their age, and Amy finds herself caught between her desire to fit in and the values of her family, who are devout Muslims.
As Amy becomes more involved with the cuties, she starts to experiment with her own femininity, wearing more revealing clothing and makeup. This leads to conflict with her mother, who is traditional and wants her to adhere to Muslim values. As Amy's struggles deepen, she becomes increasingly isolated at home and drawn to her new friends.
The film has been criticized by some for its portrayal of hypersexualized pre-teen girls, with many calling it exploitative and inappropriate. However, others have praised it for its nuanced exploration of the challenges facing young girls as they navigate the complicated terrain of sexualization and growing up in a rapidly changing world. Despite the controversy, Cuties has been praised for its cinematography, direction, and performances, and has garnered a lot of attention since its release on Netflix in September 2020.
