‘Girlhood’ Star Karidja Toure Talks Her Casting, Meaning Within the Film, Her Future as An Actress, More

The force is strong with this one, if the handful of strong reviews of it, since its Cannes Film Festival premiere (and most recently, at Toronto’s TIFF) are any indication.

Read Zeba Blay’s enthusiastic review here if you missed it.

French filmmaker Céline Sciamma’s coming-of-age drama “Bande de filles” (it’s English language title will be “Girlhood”) film follows Marieme, a high schooler who feels oppressed by her family environment, dead-end future prospects, and the rowdy boys in her neighborhood, whose life gets a much-desired lift when she meets a group of 3 free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her dress code, and quits school to be accepted by her new friends, hoping that becoming a part of their clique will provide her with the escape she’s long wanted.

The film, which made its world premiere as a 2014 Directors’ Fortnight selection – a Cannes sidebar which is distinguished by its independent-mindedness, and its non-competitive nature, striving to be eclectic and receptive to unlikely forms of cinematic expression – was picked up by Strand Releasing for USA distribution, earlier this summer, which is obviously awesome for those of us in the USA.

Plans are for an early 2015 release, so we’ll have to wait a little while. Although the film continues to travel the international film festival circuit (most recently at TIFF), which might include a film festival in your neck of the woods. As it travels, we’ll alert you of its whereabouts.

“Girlhood” stars Karidja Toure, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh, and Marietou Toure.

Sciamma directed the film from her own script.

While you wait, I was sent this video Q&A with the star of the film, Karidja Toure, after one of the film’s TIFF screenings last month. In it, she shares how she was cast in the role after being spotted in public, as well as meaning within the film, and more. I’d told she’s been attracting some attention on this side of the Atlantic, since the film’s TIFF premiere, so get to know her now, because you may start to see even more of her – specifically in American film and TV projects.

Underneath the Q&A clip, check out the latest release trailer for the film underneath. Although I’m sure Strand will eventually recut and release a trailer for the film’s USA release, early next year.

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‘Girlhood’ Star Karidja Toure Talks Her Casting, Meaning Within the Film, Her Future as An Actress, More

'Girlhood' Star Karidja Toure Talks Her Casting, Meaning Within the Film, Her Future as An Actress, More