Cuties 2020

Amy, an 11-year-old girl hailing from Senegal, navigates her life in an apartment nestled within one of Paris’ most impoverished neighborhoods. Living with her mother, Mariam, and her two younger brothers—one of whom is Ismaël—her world is colored by the complexities of her family dynamics. Her heart simmers with rage towards her father, who is poised to bring home a second wife, a situation that exacerbates her frustration with the polygamous family structure. In addition, Amy finds herself at odds with the Islamic traditions that her aunt seeks to impose on her, leading to a brewing discontent that is palpable throughout her daily life.

In stark contrast to her traditional upbringing, Amy is captivated by her rebellious neighbor, the daring Angelica, and her group of pre-teen dancers known as the Cuties. This vibrant assembly of girls represents everything that fascinates and terrifies her: their freedom, their boldness, and their penchant for dressing in revealing outfits while going head-to-head with their older rivals, the Sweety Swags. In her quest for admiration and online fame, Amy takes bold steps, incorporating provocative moves into her dancing, which she believes will win her the respect of her peers.

However, events take a drastic turn when, during a confrontation with the Sweety Swags, Amy gets pantsed. In a moment of desperation, she resorts to stealing her cousin’s phone and sends out a picture that reveals her vulnerability to the digital world, hoping to project an image of maturity instead. This reckless act quickly spirals out of control, leaving her isolated and rejected not only by her peers but also straining her relationship with the Cuties, who expel her to make room for former member Yasmine.

In the wake of her public humiliation, Amy faces disappointment from her mother, who reprimands her for her actions, and her aunt, who attempts to perform an exorcism to rid her of what they consider undesirable behavior—yet these efforts prove fruitless.

As the day of her father’s wedding approaches, coinciding with a climactic performance at the stunning Parc de la Villette, Amy’s determination to reclaim her place among the Cuties shines through. In a bold move, she sneaks out of her home, driven by an overwhelming desire to dance. In a moment of heated desperation, she pushes Yasmine into a canal to rejoin her friends, who begrudgingly accept her back into the fold.

During their highly charged dance routine, the audience is divided; it teeters on the brink of controversy. Yet, in the midst of the choreography, Amy is suddenly struck by thoughts of her mother, leading to an emotional breakdown that has her fleeing the scene before the performance concludes. Upon her return home, she is met by her aunt, who chastises her for her attire and rebellious conduct, prompting an intervention from her mother. In a show of support, Amy’s mother tells her aunt to leave her daughter alone, wrapping Amy in a comforting embrace.

Despite the tensions surrounding her attendance at the wedding, her mother permits her to skip the event, affirming that she must attend out of obligation as a wife. In a transformative moment, Amy chooses a different path, ultimately discarding both the traditional wedding dress and her provocative dance attire in favor of a more conventional youth experience. Thus, she embarks on a journey, reshaping her identity away from the polarized expectations of both her cultural heritage and her attraction to modern rebellion.