The Hedgehog poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Josiane Balasko, Garance LeGuillermic, Togo Igawa, Anne Brochet, Ariane Ascaride ... see more see more... , Vladimir Yordanoff , Sarah LePicard , Jean-Luc Porraz , Gisèle Casadesus , Mona Heftre , Samuel Achache , Valerie Karsenti , Stephan Wojtowicz , Garance Le Guillermic

Inspired by the beloved New York Times bestseller, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery, The Hedgehog is the timely story of Paloma (Garance Le Guillermic) a young girl bent on ending it al... read more read more...l on her upcoming twelfth birthday. Using her father's old camcorder to chronicle the hypocrisy she sees in adults, Paloma begins to learn about life from the grumpy building concierge, Renée Michel (Josiane Balasko). When Paloma's camera reveals the extensive secret library in Renée's back room, and that the often gruff matron reads Tolstoy to her cat, Paloma begins to understand that there are allies to be found beneath the prickliest of exteriors. As the unlikely friendship deepens, Paloma's own coming of age becomes a much less pessimistic prospect. -- (C) NeoClassics Films

Flixster Users

80% liked it

4,169 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

66 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Mona Achache

Release Date: August 19, 2011

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: June 12, 2012

Stats: 216 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (216)

  • 5oclockcoffee
    February 25, 2011
    5oclockcoffee
    "My parents are rich, my family is rich and my sister and I are basically rich. But, in spite of that, in spite of all this luck and wealth, for a long time now I've known I'm heading for the fishbowl. A world where adults bang like flies on the glass. But I know one thing. The f... read moreishbowl isn't for me.".

    Paloma is a bright little girl that decides to commit suicide on her 12th birthday. Once the important is not how or when but what you're doing
    when you die, she decides to make a film to show how absurd life is.
    In the beginning she didn't convinced me, but now I remember of Le Diable Probablement and I can see some similarities between Bresson's character Charles and her: they don't have the "common" agnst or deep sadness that used related to suicidal people, but a feeling of certainty and, conequently, unadjustment.

    Mona Achache works up such a difficult subject with humour and sensitivity. The images of Paloma's film in contrast with the film itself are great and the drawings, adorable.
    I just didn't like the dramatic-expected fairytale/love tale.

  • Otageemeur
    September 24, 2011
    Otageemeur
    "The Hedgehog" is a french movie based on the acclaimed book "The Elegance of a Hedgehog". It is the story of Paloma Josse, a young and very smart girl, who hated the status of her family: rich but ordinary people. Due to that fact, Paloma prepared her own suicide for her 12th. D... read moreuring that time, a new neighbour, Kakuro Ozu, is arriving in the building that will change the life of the concierge, Renée Michel. Renée Michel is basically the main character of the story since she is the "hedgehog": hiding her love of reading due to her concierge's status. Paloma will try to discover more about Madame Michel and Renée will be engaged into a love story with Kakuro...
    The movie is trying to let us understand a certain philosophy about life that may be hard to catch because of the slowness of the movie. However, I enjoyed the slow-paced and the various scene related to the concierge, somehow blooming thanks to the arrival of Kakuro in her life.
    Slow-paced but interesting storyline makes that moive to be okay in my opinion.

View All The Hedgehog Reviews

Critic Reviews

Bill Goodykoontz
September 22, 2011
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

A satisfying emotional experience. Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 8, 2011
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This a movie with such a light, stylish touch, it makes no claims to profundity and is a sweetly hopeful experience. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
September 2, 2011
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

"The Hedgehog" is a treat: a movie that's smart, grown-up, wry and deeply moving. Full Review

Mark Feeney
September 1, 2011
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe

Enchantment will go a long way toward overcoming implausibility, but there's not enough of the former here - and far too much of the latter. Full Review

G. Allen Johnson
August 25, 2011
G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle

What does happen seems to happen in slow motion. Full Review

Tirdad Derakhshani
August 25, 2011
Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer

An enchanting grown-up fairy tale about the redemptive power of love. Full Review

Peter Rainer
August 19, 2011
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Balasko, however, makes The Hedgehog worth seeing. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
August 19, 2011
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

Comedy and tragedy are given equal respect, and even the quietest souls are valued. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
August 19, 2011
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

An exquisite, intimate film of restraint and delicacy. Full Review

Kyle Smith
August 19, 2011
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Gentle, tender and very French, "The Hedgehog" is cinematic poetry -- too bad about that prosaic plotting. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

More Movies like The Hedgehog

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Hedgehog : Watch Free on TV

The Hedgehog Trivia

  • In Harry Potter Prisoner Of Azkaban, what monster is the 'Monster Book'? a. Spider (20%) Correct Answer b. Badger (5%)(Incorrect - 0 pts) c. Hedgehog (5%) This is wrong because:  Answer »
  • Just Got This Question What was Fiona's father's name in Shrek the third? Choose the correct answer: Dragonfly Crocodile Penguin Frog (correct) Hedgehog His name was king harold even though he turned into a frog   Answer »
More The Hedgehog Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Hedgehog. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All The Hedgehog Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add The Hedgehog to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?