That fantasy world helps ease the pressure of Ma Vie en Rose for the audience as well as its young star, but it's called on, finally, for one too many twists. But Ludovic can keep the real world away only so long, and that world becomes a hard one for the youngster and his family. The boy Ludovic loves won't sit next to him at school because he's been told that, if he does, he'll go to hell. Ludovic falls under increasing pressure to change and play manly games. His family is shunned and torn apart.
European directors find, while Hollywood still seems determined to go for the terminally cute.
He is serious, rather shy and totally right for Ludovic. Helene Vincent is loving as his grandmother, while Michele Laroque and Jean-Philippe Ecoffey handle the difficult roles of his parents. Laroque, especially, has rough terrain to cover. She has to go from tolerance to breakdown and still have room for an abrupt shift at the end. She's believable through it all.