What Is Set Me Free About?
The premise of Set Me Free in 341 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the summer of 1963, a quiet corner of rural Quebec gives way to the bustling streets of Montreal, a world where post‑war anxieties mingle with the restless energy of a new cinematic era. The film paints an intimate portrait of a modest family struggling to hold together amidst financial strain and cultural displacement, their lives threaded through the rhythms of everyday labor, poetry, and whispered histories. Against this backdrop, the city’s cafés and dimly lit theaters pulse with the promise of ideas that have never before brushed the provincial horizon.
Hanna arrives at the centre of this turbulence as a thirteen‑year‑old on the cusp of womanhood. Her body’s first changes arrive with a family that is both loving and bruised: a grandfather and uncle on the farm, a poet‑father who survived the Holocaust and now wrestles with his own temper, and a mother whose quiet endurance masks deep fatigue. The household is a delicate balance of yearning and duty, and Hanna feels both drawn to and alienated from the adults whose world she is only beginning to understand. Her brother Paul offers a small sanctuary, a hint of sibling camaraderie amid the cramped apartment they now share.
The arrival of Jean‑Luc Godard’s Vivre sa vie in a nearby theater becomes a secret catalyst for Hanna’s inner awakening. The film’s heroine, Nana, embodies a fierce sense of personal responsibility that resonates with the teenager’s own search for identity. At school, a teacher whose presence echoes the enigmatic Anna Karina captures Hanna’s imagination, encouraging her to look beyond imitation and forge her own perspective. Through borrowed gestures and quiet rebellion, she begins to explore the confusing terrain of emerging sexuality and self‑definition.
The tone of the story is simultaneously lyrical and unflinching, blending the stark realism of a working‑class Montreal neighborhood with the dreamy, avant‑garde allure of 1960s French New Wave cinema. It follows Hanna as she oscillates between the safety of family expectations and the intoxicating pull of artistic freedom, inviting the audience to witness a delicate, unresolved journey toward self‑possession.
What Happens in Set Me Free?
The complete story of Set Me Free, from the first scene to the last, in 918 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 1963, Hanna Karine Vanasse is a 13-year-old girl living on a farm in rural Quebec, surrounded by her grandparents and an uncle who may have a developmental disability. The moment she gets her first period arrives in the middle of a family dinner, and a phone call from her father disrupts the meal, nudging her toward a decision she doesn’t fully understand: to return to her parents in Montreal. The change unsettles the household, and the atmosphere at home is a mix of affection and pressure, as her grandfather and grandmother struggle to explain growing up while their son’s presence looms large with its own ghosts.
Back in the city, Hanna is welcomed back by her brother Paul Jérôme Leclerc-Couture to a tense, cramped apartment where rent is often overdue and paid in part with pawns of household items. Her father, an aspiring poet and a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust in France, is at once overbearing and capable of tenderness. He pushes Hanna toward books and memory, urging her to read The Diary of Anne Frank and speaking of his late wife—killed by the Nazis—with a fierce, imperfect love. Her mother, a depressive woman who works long hours in a sewing factory and spends nights typing her husband’s poems, speaks of needing him even as she wrestles with her own sadness. Hanna senses the fragility of this fragile balance, a family that clings to art and to each other while teetering on the edge of despair. Her mother Pascale Bussières carries her own weight in the tale, a quiet, persistent force behind the scenes.
As Hanna tries to navigate the upheaval of puberty, she sneaks into a cinema to watch Jean-Luc Godard’s Vivre Sa Vie, where she becomes entranced by the character Nana—a woman who embodies personal responsibility and independence. The actress who plays Nana, Anna Karina, becomes a lens through which Hanna begins to see herself and her own choices. The scene plants a seed: Hanna starts to fashion her own stance on life, not by mimicry, but by absorbing a fearless, self-determined stance. At her new school, she publicly declares that her parents are not married and that she does not fit neatly into Jewish or Catholic identities, a blunt assertion that shocks classmates and earns her a defense from a perceptive teacher. The teacher, who bears a striking resemblance to Karina in appearance, honors Hanna’s independence while encouraging her to forge her own path rather than rely on a borrowed example.
Hanna’s exploration deepens as she imitates the poses and aesthetics she’s seen in Godard’s film, and she soon finds a kind of kinship with a classmate named Laura. The two attend a dance together, and their kiss signals a widening of Hanna’s understanding of her own sexuality. Laura is introduced to Hanna’s brother Paul, and the three spend time together as they try to parse their feelings and their sense of belonging. Yet beneath these arcs of growing autonomy, Hanna remains increasingly isolated, caught between the pull of cinema and the pull of home.
A rift with her father leads to a darker turn in the family’s story. Hanna’s mother attempts to cope in a moment of crisis; she survives a suicide attempt, and Hanna’s visit to the hospital is a moment of shared fear and longing for connection. In a harsh sequence that exposes Hanna to the world’s uglier edges, her father sends her to a baker, hoping for bread and perhaps a simple errand, but the baker—Gary Boudreault in the role of the Boulanger—takes her to his back kitchen, gropes her, and supplies her with bread and money in a sickening exchange of power.
A few steps beyond the home, the city’s red-light district becomes a maze Hanna wanders through, her sense of self further unsettled as she befriends a lost dog and, listening to the world’s louder voices, adopts the posture of a prostitute. A man steers her toward a cheap hotel, and for a moment she is drawn into a choice she hasn’t yet learned to articulate—yet his pressure makes her flee. The experience skirts the line between danger and escape, and when she collapses on her teacher’s doorstep with the dog in the morning light, the film shifts from danger to fragile hope. The next morning, Hanna returns to the family apartment, where her father offers a quiet, steady welcome with a dinner set before them, signaling a slow possible reconciliation.
Back at school, Hanna is given a small camera by her teacher, a gift that promises a new way to see and to tell her own story. The teacher’s faith that she will learn to use it marks a turning point: a toolshed for self-expression that she can carry to the grandparents’ house for the summer. The film ends with a series of gliding shots from the camera—moments of everyday life, of family, of memory—capturing Hanna’s mother in candid, patient frames as they head toward a summer with the grandparents, a family’s attempt at healing through time, art, and the quiet courage to keep looking forward.
- Grandparents and other family members provide the emotional horizon, with pivotal roles played by Monique Mercure as Grand-Mère and Jacques Galipeau as Grand-Père, grounding Hanna’s world in a sense of history and continuity.
- The story threads together themes of puberty, family strain, the lure and danger of cinema, and a young girl’s attempt to forge an independent path in a world that tests her at every turn.
Set Me Free Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Puberty sparks a decision” to “Return, reconciliation, and new lens”. 14 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Puberty sparks a decision
In 1963, Hanna begins to navigate puberty while living on a rural Quebec farm with her grandparents and uncle. She experiences her first period and interrupts a family dinner when her father calls, unsettling her grandmother. The moment heightens her discomfort with her growing body and prompts a longing to change her life by returning to Montreal.
When:1963 Where:Rural Quebec farm
- 2
Return to Montreal and precarious home
Hanna chooses to leave the countryside and move to Montreal to live with her parents in a small, financially strained apartment. The rent is often overdue and sometimes paid with money pawed from household items. This move marks a sharper departure from the stability she formerly knew.
When:shortly after decision to return Where:Montreal, family apartment
- 3
A father who inspires and intimidates
Her father is an aspiring poet and Holocaust survivor who exerts a strong, sometimes abusive grip on the family. He can be harsh, yet he also shows tenderness when connecting with Hanna by sharing memories and his poetry. His presence shapes Hanna's sense of identity and eroding trust.
When:early period Where:Montreal apartment
- 4
A mother under strain
Hanna's mother is depressive and works long hours at a sewing factory while trying to keep up with her husband's demands. She spends time at home typing his poems, creating a tense, emotionally distant atmosphere. The couple's fragility underscores Hanna's isolation.
When:early period Where:Montreal apartment
- 5
Cinema awakening: Vivre Sa Vie
Hanna sneaks into a theater to watch Jean-Luc Godard's Vivre Sa Vie and becomes entranced by Nana's independent stance. She begins to imitate Karina's poses and attitudes, drawing inspiration from the film's philosophy of personal responsibility. This experience amplifies her fascination with image and self-definition.
When:early period Where:Montreal cinema
- 6
School unveils identity
On her first day at a new school, Hanna declares that her parents are not married and that she does not identify as Jewish or Catholic. A classmate taunts her with anti-Semitic slurs, but a teacher comes to her defense and offers support. The encounter pushes Hanna toward embracing her own view of life.
When:beginning of school year Where:School
- 7
A mentor without a guide
The teacher who resembles Karina admires Hanna's independence but cautions her to develop her own philosophy rather than rely on a film star as a role model. Hanna absorbs this counsel while continuing to shape her personal identity. The dynamic highlights a push toward autonomy.
When:early period Where:School
- 8
Identity through style and desire
Hanna continues to adopt Karina-inspired poses and clothing from Godard's film as she navigates her evolving sexuality. The boundary between admiration and imitation blurs as she experiments with how she presents herself to the world.
When:throughout adolescence Where:Montreal
- 9
Dance, Laura, and first kiss
Hanna attends a dance with Laura, and the two share a kiss, marking a step into intimate experimentation. Later, she introduces Laura to her brother Paul, and the three of them spend time together while they try to understand their feelings.
When:mid-period Where:Montreal
- 10
Mother's crisis
A quarrel with her husband triggers a suicide attempt by Hanna's mother. Hanna visits the hospital and is distressed to find her sedated mother unresponsive to her pleas for connection. The moment deepens Hanna's sense of parental fragility.
When:following quarrel Where:Hospital
Show the other 4 events of Set Me Free Hide the last 4 events
- 11
The bakery betrayal
While her father sends Hanna for bread, the baker takes her to the back kitchen and gropes her, then gives bread and money. The incident exposes a predatory threat and compounds Hanna's sense of vulnerability.
When:during bread errand Where:Bakery back kitchen
- 12
Leaving and wandering the city
After another dispute with her father, Hanna and Paul leave the apartment and wander through the city. She drifts into the red-light district, befriends a stray dog, and begins to imitate a prostitute's persona she admires on screen. A man eventually takes her to a cheap hotel room.
When:mid-late period Where:City, red-light district
- 13
Escape and dawn rescue
When the man tries to force himself on her, Hanna flees and collapses on her teacher's doorstep. The next morning, she and the dog are found on the teacher's steps, signifying a moment of vulnerability and rescue.
When:dawn after night Where:Teacher's doorstep
- 14
Return, reconciliation, and new lens
Hanna returns to the family apartment and is greeted by her father with a prepared dinner, signaling a fragile reconciliation. She goes back to school and is loaned a small movie camera by her teacher, hinting at a future creative outlet. The ending shows shots from the camera of Hanna's mother as they head to the grandparents' house for the summer.
When:season's end Where:Montreal apartment
Who Are the Main Characters in Set Me Free?
9 characters, among them Hanna (Karine Vanasse), Père and Mère: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- H(
Hanna (Karine Vanasse)
Played by Karine Vanasse
The 13-year-old at the center of Set Me Free, Hanna grapples with puberty, identity, and independence. She moves between rural farm life and urban Montreal, absorbing conflicting loyalties and searching for a voice of her own. Her curiosity leads her to imitate Godard's Nana while trying to claim responsibility for her choices.
- 🎭 Protagonist
- 👧 Coming-of-age
- 🧭 Self-discovery
- P
Père
Played by Miki Manojlović
Hanna's father is an overbearing, loving, sometimes cruel poet who survived the Holocaust. He oscillates between tenderness and control, driving some of Hanna's discomfort and pushing conversations about life, identity, and danger. His volatile presence and storytelling shape Hanna's sense of safety and rebellion.
- 🎭 Father figure
- 💬 Authority
- 🕊️ Duality
- M
Mère
Played by Pascale Bussières
Hanna's mother is exhausted, depressed, and financially strained, spending long hours at a sewing factory. She both clings to her husband and seeks connection, revealing the fragility of the family unit. Her wounds and moments of care influence Hanna's understanding of love and fragility.
- 👩 Mother figure
- 🧠 Emotional strain
- 💔 Complexity
- G
Grand-Mère
Played by Monique Mercure
Grandmother in the rural home, embodying older, traditional values and pragmatic responses to hardship. Her presence anchors the family’s routines and highlights the tensions between generations. She represents the weight of family history on Hanna's world.
- 👵 Elderly
- 🏚️ Traditionalism
- G
Grand-père
Played by Jacques Galipeau
Grandfather in the rural setting, part of the multi-generational household that provides safety yet defines strict boundaries. His interactions reflect the authority and expectations of the older generation. He completes the firm, sometimes stifling, family framework around Hanna.
- 👴 Elderly
- 🕊️ Authority
- P
Professeure
Played by Nancy Huston
Hanna's schoolteacher who defends her against anti-Semitic taunts and encourages independence. The teacher admires Hanna's resolve but pushes her to form her own beliefs. She supports Hanna's growth and risk-taking, including exposure to cinema.
- 👩 Teacher
- 🧭 Guidance
- 🧠 Empowerment
- L
Laura
Played by Charlotte Christeler
Hanna's school friend who shares moments of rebellion and affection, helping Hanna explore sexuality within a protected context. Laura's presence highlights the possibility of intimate connection and self-definition outside strict norms.
- 👭 Friend
- 👫 Exploration
- 💃 Youth romance
-
Nana
Played by Anna Karina
The cinematic archetype from Godard's Vivre Sa Vie that Hanna admires; Nana embodies a philosophy of personal responsibility and autonomy. Hanna uses Nana as a model for how to navigate desire and choice. Nana frames cinema as a guide to freedom.
- 🎥 Icon
- 🌀 Influence
- 🗽 Freedom
- P
Paul
Played by Alexandre Mérineau
Hanna's brother who welcomes her back to Montreal and participates in the family's daily life. He shares the challenges of rent and money, acting as a peer in Hanna's early exploration of adulthood.
- 👦 Brother
- 🧭 Companionship
- 🏠 Family
Where and When Is Set Me Free Set?
Set Me Free is set in Rural Quebec farm and Montreal (1963). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1963
Set in 1963, the film situates Hanna's coming-of-age within a period of traditional family roles and emerging social change in Quebec. The era's expectations shape her experiences of puberty, identity, and sexuality, as well as her exposure to different worlds—rural life, urban poverty, and cultural influences like cinema.
Where
Rural Quebec farm, Montreal
The story unfolds across Hanna's grandparents' farm in rural Quebec and a small apartment in Montreal. The rural setting highlights family routines, financial strain, and intergenerational dynamics, while the move to the city exposes Hanna to cramped living conditions and the challenges of urban life. These settings frame Hanna's transition from a sheltered upbringing to a more complex, independent existence.
- 🏡 Farm life
- 🌆 Montreal city
- 🗺️ Quebec countryside
What Are the Themes of Set Me Free?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Coming of age, Family dynamics and Cinema influence.
-
01
Coming of age
Hanna's puberty and emotional awakening drive the narrative, pushing her to define herself beyond parental expectations. She experiments with identity, fashion, and romantic feelings, while seeking a voice of her own. The story follows her missteps and moments of clarity as she moves toward greater personal autonomy.
-
02
Family dynamics
The film centers on a fraught family environment where affection coexists with coercion and vulnerability. Hanna witnesses both conflict and tenderness, revealing how home life shapes her sense of self and safety. Financial stress and intergenerational tensions intensify her longing for independence.
-
03
Cinema influence
Hanna is drawn to cinema, especially Godard's Vivre Sa Vie, which she uses as a model for personal responsibility. The character Nana serves as a cinematic guide, shaping Hanna's aspirations and sense of agency. The film frames art as both escape and instruction, informing how she navigates desire and choice.
What Kind of Film Is Set Me Free?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A slow, melancholic coming-of-age story set in 1960s Montreal, where a teenage girl's artistic and sexual awakening unfolds against a backdrop of family dysfunction and quiet desperation, punctuated by moments of tender connection.
- melancholic
- searching
- isolated
- adrift
- autumnal
- introspective
- coming of age
- sexual awakening
- dysfunctional family
- artistic inspiration
Content notes: suicide attempt, sexual assault, domestic abuse, child endangerment.
Quiz
How well do you remember Set Me Free? Test yourself on the story.
