Fat Girl

Released Oct 10, 2001

1h 26m

Drama

List

74%

87 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Anaïs is twelve and bears the weight of the world on her shoulders. She watches her older sister, Elena, whom she both loves and hates. Elena is fifteen and devilishly beautiful. Neither more futile, nor more stupid than her younger sister, she cannot understand that she is merely an object of desire. And, as such, she can only be taken. Or had. Indeed, this is the subject: a girl's loss of virginity. And, that summer, it opens a door to tragedy.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered May 25

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Max

Watch Fat Girl with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

The controversial Fat Girl is an unflinchingly harsh but powerful look at female adolescence.

Read Critics Reviews

Art B

A serious and intense movie, not designed for escape or audience comfort, with excellent acting and directing. It has lighter moments but is ultimately disturbing. To me if felt true and authentic, and thus us recommended to those who are ok with serious but well crafted films without heroes, special effects or cheerful endings.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/21/24

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 26 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's about an overweight girl and her older sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

Noel P

Always refreshing to see the French ride that line (and sometimes pass it). Really enjoyed it when the film provides those long scenes where the two lead actresses can act and have their very real moments together as sisters. That ending was also one of the most shocking and unexpected endings I've seen.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/27/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Child pornography as art the way on the French can justify. Hideous and exploitive with zero commentary or meaning.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You may see this movie and think, "Wow. Such drama. Very art!" Ooooorrrr... you'll find Catherine Breillat to be an overplayed ped-phile with nothing to offer except her depressingly psychotic whims. I found this movie to be boring from the beginning. It has nothing to say, nothing to offer. Just, as per all her films, "Life sucks then you die... and if you don't die, it's because your life hasn't sucked enough yet so don't worry, you'll be r-ped or beaten up soon... then you can die." Then to add insult, every lead character in some way welcomes their abuse, because again, "Life is pain." So apparently, there is nothing worth existing for except existing horrifically before a horrific death.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Catherine Breillat

Director

Anais Reboux

Anaïs Pingot

Roxane Mesquida

Elena

Arsinée Khanjian

Mother

Romain Goupil

Father

Laura Betti

Fernando's Mother

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

40%

40%

I Love You, I Love You Not

78%

75%

Late August, Early September

66%

65%

In My Skin

73%

81%

The Piano Teacher

70%

91%

Dancer in the Dark

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Bo Burnham’s Five Favorite Films

View more photos

Alyx Vesey

Bitch Media

While hardly enamored with Fat Girl, I was fine with it until its conclusion.

Jan 5, 2021

Full Review

Chicago Reader

[Features a] shocking, ambiguous ending.

Apr 11, 2008

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

B. Ruby Rich

The Nation

From its tranquil beginning to its shocking finish, Fat Girl shows Breillat to be a world-class artist working at the top of her form -- even when the lessons of gender, sexuality and social custom may be hard to swallow.

Feb 28, 2020

Full Review

Steve Erickson

Nashville Scene

Far from being a mere provocateur (although she certainly is one), Breillat shines a light on the way everyday sexism degrades all concerned.

Oct 24, 2018

Full Review

Lindsay Pugh

Woman in Revolt

I first saw this movie when I was 13 years old and it made me want to take a vow of celibacy. It is brutal and if seen at a formative age, inescapable.

Oct 24, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Anaïs is twelve and bears the weight of the world on her shoulders. She watches her older sister, Elena, whom she both loves and hates. Elena is fifteen and devilishly beautiful. Neither more futile, nor more stupid than her younger sister, she cannot understand that she is merely an object of desire. And, as such, she can only be taken. Or had. Indeed, this is the subject: a girl's loss of virginity. And, that summer, it opens a door to tragedy.

Director: Catherine Breillat
Producer: Fredy Lagrost
Screenwriter: Catherine Breillat
Distributor: Cowboy Pictures, Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Immagine e Cinema, Centre National de la Cinematographie, arte France Cinéma, Canal+, Urania Pictures S.r.l., CB (Catherine Breillat) Films, Flach Film
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $724.1K
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now