My Little Princess (2011)
A searing autobiographical drama about childhood, art, and exploitation in 1970s Paris, directed by Éva Ionesco and starring Isabelle Huppert.
My Little Princess - Movie Information
- Original Title: My Little Princess
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Éva Ionesco
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 45m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: Romanian, French, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 29, 2011 (France), November 11, 2011 (United States), October 7, 2011 (Germany - 12), January 13, 2022 (South Korea - 18)
- Alternative Titles: I'm Not A F**king Princess (DE), I'm Not A F**king Princess (NL), I'm Not a F**king Princess (US), Eu Não Sou a Tua Princesa (PT)
- Production Companies: France 2 Cinéma, Les Productions Bagheera, Canal+, France Télévisions
- Production Countries: France
My Little Princess - Plot
Young Violetta and her mother Hannah are a peculiar couple. Ten-year-old Violetta lives a quiet life with her grandmother, while her mother Hannah is an unpredictable photographer who lives off of the generosity of others. When Hannah forces her daughter to pose as a model, Violetta finds her life with her loving grandmother turned upside down. The resulting pictures quickly become a sensation for the trendy 70's Paris art scene, and Violetta finds herself caught in between her new stature as an art muse and her dull childhood.
My Little Princess - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a first look at this striking French drama.
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My Little Princess - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Éva Ionesco
Main Cast
- Isabelle Huppert
- Anamaria Vartolomei
- Georgetta Leahu
- Denis Lavant
- Jethro Cave
- Louis-Do de Lencquesaing
- Pascal Bongard
- Anne Benoît
- Johanna Degris-Agogue
- Déborah Révy
Writers
- Philippe Le Guay
- Marc Cholodenko
- Éva Ionesco
Producers
- François Marquis
My Little Princess - FAQs
What is My Little Princess about?
My Little Princess follows Violetta, a ten-year-old living quietly with her grandmother in 1970s Paris, whose life is upended when her free-spirited photographer mother begins using her as an art model. The resulting images make Violetta a sensation, leaving her torn between childhood innocence and the seductive, unsettling world of adult art.
Is My Little Princess based on a true story?
Yes, the film draws directly from director Éva Ionesco's own childhood. As a young girl, Ionesco was photographed by her mother Irina Ionesco in controversial, provocative images that circulated in 1970s Paris art circles. The film is her deeply personal reckoning with that experience, told through the fictional names Violetta and Hannah.
Who directed My Little Princess and why does it matter?
Éva Ionesco directed the film — and that's what makes it extraordinary. She's not just a filmmaker telling someone else's story; she's the real-life Violetta, processing her own childhood through cinema. It's a rare case of a director confronting their past on screen, lending the film an emotional authenticity that's impossible to manufacture.
Who are the main actors in My Little Princess?
Isabelle Huppert leads the cast as the mercurial, self-absorbed photographer mother Hannah, delivering one of her characteristically fearless performances. Young Anamaria Vartolomei is remarkable as Violetta, carrying the film's emotional weight with striking naturalism. The supporting cast includes Denis Lavant, Georgetta Leahu, and Jethro Cave.
Where can you watch My Little Princess online?
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How does the film portray the mother-daughter relationship?
The relationship between Hannah and Violetta is the film's beating heart — and its most troubling element. Hannah is magnetic and monstrous in equal measure, treating her daughter as both a beloved muse and a tool for her own ambitions. Ionesco refuses easy condemnation, instead capturing the confusing love a child holds for a parent who causes harm.
Was My Little Princess well received by critics?
The film earned considerable critical respect, particularly for Isabelle Huppert's performance and Ionesco's courageous autobiographical direction. Critics praised its unflinching emotional honesty and its refusal to sentimentalize a genuinely difficult subject. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011, which underscored its standing as serious, accomplished cinema.
What is the significance of the 1970s Paris setting?
The 1970s Paris art world setting is crucial — it was a milieu where provocative imagery of children was tolerated, even celebrated, under the banner of artistic freedom. The film uses this context to explore how institutions and social norms can enable exploitation, making the era not just a backdrop but an active participant in Violetta's story.
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