Cannes 2018 – Arthouse Roundup: “The Little Tickles”

Our most vulnerable moments in childhood often define the adults we are to become.  From friendships to favourite albums, and first crushes to betrayals, in order to heal, we must deal with the past before it deals with us. Such is the story in “Les Chatouilles” [English title: “The Little Kisses]. As a child, Odette (co-director/writer Andrea Bescond)  is an aspiring dancer and artist.  Over the course of her childhood, a family friend abuses Odette. The trauma of her experience echoes throughout her life in failed relationships, drug addictions, and unfulfilled artistic ambitions.  Over the course of the film, she leads her therapist through the menagerie of her memories to finally deal with the abuse and abuser that changed her life. THE GOOD  The honesty to approach this subject matter is a very personal and bold move. The mundane and relatable world built around Odette’s family and their adult male friend who abuses her is a reflection of society built around facade and silences.  Given the material, the performances are genuine and especially strong from Odette’s parents (played over successive decades by Karin Viard and Clovis Cornillac).  Their performance anchors the harsh reality as they are an essentially codependent, emotionally abusive couple whose dysfunctional relationship leads to the abuse of their daughter. As a narrative device, the film is structured around the conceit that Odette is revisiting her memories with her therapist. During these moments, Odette …