The Hedgehog

The Hedgehog

Year: 2009

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: French

Director: Mona Achache

ComedyDramaMoving relationship storiesTouching and sentimental family storiesCaptivating relationships and charming romance

Paloma, an articulate but bored 11‑year‑old, plans to end her life on her 12th birthday. Obsessed with art and philosophy, she records sharp, often funny observations of her world. As the date approaches, she befriends the building’s grumpy janitor and an enigmatic, elegant neighbour, whose kindness nudges her to reconsider her bleak outlook.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Hedgehog (2009)

Trace every key event in The Hedgehog (2009) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Paloma's luxurious but unhappy life in Paris

Paloma lives in a chic Paris apartment with her family, observing the world around her with a sharp, unsettled intelligence. She senses disappointment and despair in the adults she knows, even as they move through a life of luxury. Her inner turmoil sets the stage for the diary-like record she will begin to keep.

Paris, France
2

Paloma begins recording life with her father's camera

With her father's old camera in hand, Paloma captures telling moments of the people around her—the mother reliant on antidepressants, the moody sister, and the dinner guests. She treats their flaws as scenes in a larger, watchful narrative. The camera becomes her tool for processing a world she can't bear to fully inhabit.

Paris, France
3

Paloma fixes a countdown to her twelfth birthday

Paloma determines that adulthood may hold only disappointment, and she fixes her escape to her twelfth birthday. She begins counting the days remaining, treating each as a chapter in a private diary. The decision compounds the loneliness she feels inside the luxurious building.

165 days before her twelfth birthday Paris, France
4

Paloma starts stealing antidepressants

To prepare for what she believes will be her end, Paloma begins stealing antidepressants from her mother. She hides the pills, turning them into a tool for an exit she cannot imagine living through. The act underscores the fragility of her household and her fragile state of mind.

Paloma's mother's apartment, Paris
5

Paloma's plan escalates: the goldfish incident

One night Paloma gives one of her sister's goldfish a pill and flushes it away, attempting to control life through a cruel test. The act shocks those who may one day learn of it and foreshadows the consequences of Paloma’s isolation. The moment marks a dangerous turn in her preparations.

Paloma's home
6

Renée saves the goldfish from Paloma's act

Renée discovers the still-living goldfish in her own toilet and acts to save it, revealing a surprising capacity for care. The rescue makes Paloma aware that kindness exists outside her family’s glassy world. This event plants the early seeds of trust between Paloma and Renée.

the following day Renée's apartment and bathroom, Paris
7

Paloma grows to admire Renée and spends time with her

Paloma begins spending time in Renée's apartment, seeking refuge from her family. She finds solace in Renée’s quiet strength and shared love of literature. Their bond grows as Paloma opens up about her own life and dreams.

Renée's apartment, Paris
8

Kakuro Ozu asks Renée on a date

Kakuro Ozu, the widowed Japanese resident, stops by to ask Renée on a date. Renée initially rejects him, hampered by low self-esteem and a fear of rejection. The moment highlights Renée's vulnerability and longing for connection.

Renée's life in the building, Paris
9

Renée and Kakuro go on a dinner date

After some hesitation, Renée accepts the invitation and they enjoy a romantic evening at a restaurant. The night fills Renée with renewed optimism about a future with Kakuro. Paloma watches the developing relationship with a mix of curiosity and hope for Renée’s happiness.

Restaurant, Paris
10

Tragedy on Paloma's twelfth birthday: Renée's death

The next day, on Paloma's twelfth birthday, Renée walks into the street to scold a neighbor for dancing in traffic and is struck by a van, dying instantly. The sudden loss idles Paloma’s plans and shatters her sense of safety. The event deepens Paloma's understanding of life's fragility.

Paloma's twelfth birthday Paris street
11

Paloma chooses to live after Renée's death

Shaken by Renée's death, Paloma cancels her suicide plan and starts re-evaluating what keeps a person alive. The tragedy forces her to see that life can end abruptly and that choosing to endure may carry its own form of resilience. She begins to entertain a future she hadn't allowed herself to imagine.

Paris, Paloma's apartment
12

Kakuro moves out and gifts Paloma the Anna Karenina volumes

Sometime later, Kakuro moves out of the building. Before leaving, he gives Paloma both volumes of Anna Karenina, continuing a thread of literature that linked Renée and him. The gesture marks a bridge between the adult world and Paloma's new, hopeful path.

Building in Paris
13

Paloma cherishes the memories and the books with the goldfish

Paloma brings the Anna Karenina volumes into her own apartment along with the goldfish that Renée saved. The two gifts symbolize a new companionship with literature and a tangible link to Renée. Paloma anchors her life to what she has learned from Renée and starts to move forward.

Paloma's apartment, Paris

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:45

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Hedgehog

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