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The Little Sister

Play trailer Poster for The Little Sister Jun 2026 1h 48m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 35 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When Fatima leaves her close-knit suburban family to study philosophy in Paris, she finds herself caught between her religious upbringing and the freedom of student life in the city.
The Little Sister

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Critics Consensus

The Little Sister is a restrained yet powerful coming-of-age drama, elevated by Nadia Melliti's standout performance and an empathetic directorial touch that makes its familiar themes feel deeply personal.

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Critics Reviews

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Alissa Wilkinson New York Times 1d
There is a tender exuberance to “The Little Sister,” which renders Fatima’s development from an uncertain, sullen high school student into a more confident young woman as just one step on a journey. Go to Full Review Melissa Anderson 4Columns Mar 10
Often [Nadia Melliti's] untutored acting style felicitously highlights the fragility of Fatima’s butch, tomboyish bravado; at other times, Melliti’s lack of acting experience simply translates as awkward stiffness before the camera. Go to Full Review Tomris Laffly Elle Jun 10
Where a lesser movie would have milked the conservative Muslim family trope (which this Muslim critic has had enough of), The Little Sister fashions a beautiful mother-daughter scene where unconditional love is deeply felt and packs a universal punch. Go to Full Review Jared Mobarak The Film Stage 8h
The film is therefore less a "coming of age" than it is an "evolving to be." It’s about the indelible moments that push Fatima to embrace her desires while also reminding her that doing so doesn’t mean she must also erase her faith. Go to Full Review Michael Nordine Movie Brief 1d
3/4
Herzi eschews familiar tropes in favor of slice-of-life realism built on the accumulation of small, authentic moments. Go to Full Review Belen Prieto Espinof May 15
4/5
...more than telling a coming-out story in the traditional sense, [The Little Sister] dismantles all the expectations that queer cinema has accumulated over decades. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 4h Success in 1 hour and 48 minutes. See more Read all reviews
The Little Sister

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Cast & Crew

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Hafsia Herzi

Director

Nadia Melliti

Fatima

Park Ji-min

Ji-Na

Amina Ben Mohamed

Actor

Rita Benmannana

Actor

Melissa Guers

Actor
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The Little Sister

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Fatima leaves her close-knit suburban family to study philosophy in Paris, she finds herself caught between her religious upbringing and the freedom of student life in the city.
Director
Hafsia Herzi
Producer
Julie Billy, Naomi Denamur
Screenwriter
Hafsia Herzi
Distributor
Strand Releasing
Production Co
June Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 5, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 48m