Girlhood

The events take place in the 2010s in Paris and its surrounding suburbs. Contemporary fashion, music, and street culture influence the girls' choices and behavior. The setting reflects the urban realities faced by youth in modern France.

The story is set in a poor Paris suburb where dense housing blocks frame daily life. The city center and hotel rooms provide glimpses of a different world that tempts and tests the characters. The locations together illustrate the social divide between home life and the allure of independence and danger.

🧭 Identity

The film follows Marieme as she searches for belonging and a sense of self within a challenging environment. The gang offers a framework for identity that she gradually adopts through clothing, behavior, and group loyalty. Her journey shows how external pressures can shape who she becomes. The ending signals a reassertion of personal agency and a move toward self-definition.

🚧 Survival

Economic hardship and social precarity push the characters toward risky survival strategies. Theft, drug dealing, and street life are depicted as means to gain power and autonomy in a constrained world. The environment of the Paris suburbs amplifies temptations and dangers that come with such choices. The narrative also questions the costs of these survival tactics for personal health and relationships.

💪 Solidarity

The girls form a tight-knit circle that provides protection, validation, and a sense of belonging missing at home. This solidarity enables Marieme to experiment with new identities while facing real consequences. The group demonstrates both empowerment and risk, as loyalty sometimes clashes with individual welfare. The conclusion hints at maintaining solidarity while pursuing a safer, more independent path.