Book: The Elegance of the Hedgehog Author Muriel Barbery; Translator: Alison Anderson Publisher Europa Editions
Renée Michel is the dumpy, nondescript, 54-year-old concierge of a small and exclusive Paris apartment building. Paloma Josse also lives in the building, an acutely intelligent, introspective and philosophical 12-year-old who views the world as absurd and records her observations about it in her journal. These two characters form an unexpected friendship. Tender and satirical in its overall tone, yet most absorbing because of its reflections on the nature of beauty and art, the meaning of life and death.... “The intelligent Muriel Barbery has served readers well by giving us the gently satirical, exceptionally winning and inevitably bittersweet Elegance of the Hedgehog.” —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post
Film: France 2009 96 min Rated M (Subtitled) Director: Mona Achache Cast: Garance Le Guillermic, Anne Brochet, Wladimir Yordanoff, Josiane Balasko
Based freely on the best-selling novel “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” one noticeable change in the film adaptation is that Paloma films everything on her video camera whereas in the book she records everything in her journal. It is Mona Achache’s first feature film and she directs it with poise and intelligence to blend the stories of the characters. “I think it’s a really interesting film; an unexpected one in many ways.” David Stratton - At the Movies
What does this story convey about stereotypes and class divide?
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