The Hedgehog

Set in contemporary Paris, the film follows a perceptive pre-teen and an aging concierge in a modern urban context. The events carry the feel of a present-day city where social norms and technology shape daily life within a bourgeois milieu. The timeline centers on Paloma's coming-of-age on her twelfth birthday and the evolving relationships within the building.

The story unfolds inside a refined Parisian apartment building, a microcosm of bourgeois life. Its gleaming corridors and elegant interiors contrast with the characters' private disappointments and hidden desires. The city of Paris provides the backdrop of social hierarchy and intimate moments of connection.

🤝 Friendship

An unlikely bond forms between Paloma and Renée, and later with Kakuro, showing that companionship can bridge class and isolation. The relationship develops through shared conversations about literature, life, and loss, offering solace and a renewed sense of purpose. The film uses their friendship to challenge loneliness and reveal resilience in difficult circumstances.

🏙️ Class & City

The luxurious Parisian apartment building embodies appearances and social expectations. Paloma, Renée, and Kakuro navigate tensions between bourgeois interiors and the inner lives that remain unseen. The setting highlights how class and social roles shape behavior, values, and opportunities for connection.

🎭 Literature

Renée's concealed passion for books contrasts with her outward facade as a concierge. The exchange of Anna Karenina volumes symbolizes shared meaning and intellectual kinship. Literature becomes a lifeline and a lens for understanding others and finding beauty in ordinary life.