Little Zizou

In sun‑kissed Goa, two households have been living under the shadow of an old rivalry that colors every gathering, conversation, and quiet moment. The streets pulse with the bright colors of festivals and the gentle hush of the sea, while the lingering tension between the families creates a subtle undercurrent that never quite lets the atmosphere settle. The film’s tone balances the warmth of a close‑knit community with the sharp edges of long‑standing grudges, inviting the viewer into a world where love and resentment coexist like the tide and the sand.

At the heart of this delicate dance is an exuberant eleven‑year‑old boy named Xerxes, whose boundless energy and love for football earn him the nickname “Little Zizou.” He shares his home with his older brother Artaxerxes, a dreamer whose imagination finds expression in art and quiet acts of rebellion. Their father, Khodaiji, carries the pride of a self‑appointed guardian of faith, drawing both reverence and financial support from his followers. Across the street, the equally proud patriarch Pressvala runs a forward‑thinking newspaper, positioning his household as the ideological opposite of Khodaiji’s.

The youthful curiosity of Xerxes extends into an unexpected affection for a nurturing figure in the rival family, while Artaxerxes wrestles with a tender, unreciprocated love for Zenobe, the daughter of the opposing clan. Meanwhile, Pressvala’s younger daughter Liana begins to bridge the gap between the boys, hinting at the fragile possibilities of friendship amid the feud. These layered relationships pulse with a quiet yearning for connection, set against the backdrop of a community where every smile can mask a hidden grievance.

The film swirls with the colors, sounds, and textures of coastal life, using its lively setting to amplify the emotional stakes. It leaves the audience pondering whether the entrenched animosities can soften enough to let compassion surface, and whether the younger generation can rewrite the script that the older one has long followed.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 09:04