Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
French period adaptation has violence against kids, grief.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sophie's Misfortunes (Les malheurs de Sophie)
What's the Story?
In SOPHIE'S MISFORTUNES, Sophie (Caroline Grant) is a young girl with an independent spirit who often finds herself in trouble due to her curiosity and energy. When her parents die, she faces a worrying upbringing when she is taken into the care of her strict and stern stepmother, Madame Fichini (Muriel Robin).
Is It Any Good?
As Sophie makes her way around her lavish French estate, the camera remains low to the ground. Taking cue's from Steven Spielberg's classic E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Sophie's Misfortunes shows all scenes featuring children from their eye level. Seeing the world from their point of view, we're treated to fun flourishes like cartoon animals appearing, and sequences that remind us of the joys of childhood. Alongside the cartoon animals, characters occasionally directly address the audience and musical numbers spring out of nowhere. Director Christophe Honoré allows Sophie's anarchic free spirit to permeate the movie. And this spirit is perfectly embodied by the young Grant, who gives a star turn in the titular role.
From Sophie's point of view, we also see the oppression some adults can put on kids, snuffing out their spark and imagination. Madam Fichie is a particularly nasty stepmother, but one whose meanness is matched by the kindness of other adults. Largely female-led -- all the kids' fathers are away and never seen -- this is a movie on the side of children, with enough spirit and top performances to carry adults along with it too.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence and peril in Sophie's Misfortunes. Did the movie's fantasy tone affect how you felt about it? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Discuss the character of Sophie. Would you describe her as a good role model? Why, or why not? What character strengths did she show?
The movie is filmed from the height of a child. Why do you think the filmmaker chose to use this technique? Have you seen any other movies where this type of camera work was used?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 20, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : November 1, 2019
- Cast : Caroline Grant , Anaïs Demoustier , Golshifteh Farahani
- Director : Christophe Honoré
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Gaumont
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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