A few armed forces and their families live in one of the last French military bases abroad on sunny, red-tinged Madagascar, their home a waning relic of France’s colonial empire. Their imaginations piqued by the intrepid comic book heroine Fantômette, 10-year-olds Thomas and Suzanne unobtrusively observe with surreptitious curiosity the world around them. Beneath the seemingly carefree and indulgent expatriate life, their eyes gradually open to other realities. Inspired by director Robin Campillo’s own childhood experiences on military deployments abroad, “It’s a compelling, visually exquisite piece of work.”—Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian. “Its autobiographical elements are keenly felt, as Campillo grapples intelligently not just with the blind spots of his personal past, but those of his national heritage.”—Guy Lodge, Variety.

WATCH TRAILER >