By rights Louise Mauroy-Panzani as Cleo should be at the front of the queue for every acting award going for her role in this gorgeous French drama. Just six years old at the time of filming she gives a performance so open and natural, it has an almost transparent quality. The opening scenes showing us Cléo’s life with Gloria, her nanny, are beautifully detailed. Cléo’s mum died when she was a baby, and she lives with her dad (Arnaud Rebotini), who is gentle but remote, still reeling from grief. It’s Gloria who is the sun in Cleo’s life. Running out of school her little face, poking out from under a tangled mop of curls, lights up at the sight of her nanny. Then, one day, Gloria gets a call. Her mother in Cape Verde has died; she is going home to look after her own children. 

A rare and wonderful film that leaves an almighty impression. Everything is so unforced and effortlessly convincing. Simple and restrained, profound and moving.