Mirette is a short film set 100 years ago in Paris where a young girl’s life is changed by the arrival of a mysterious man.
The magical world of adults seen through the eyes of a child have shaped many a family film, the things they see and hear made colorful in the fertile soil of young imagination. So it is with Helen O’Hanlon‘s spritely short film Mirette, a charming bit of old school fantasy that harkens to days gone by with an endearing tale of inspiration and wonder.
A long time ago in Paris, a young girl named Mirette (Dixie Egerickx) lives in a large boardinghouse filled with eccentric tenants, many who seem to have made their living in vaudeville and carnivals. She works as the laundry girl and spends her evenings hidden at the top of the stairs, listening to the fascinating stories below. One day, while she tends to the clothes out back, she meets the newest to the home, a man walking a short rope not far off the ground. She soon hears rumors he is the great Bellini (Jean-Marc Desmond), famous for crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope, and befriends him, wanting to learn his trade. He denies her at first, warning her that once her feet cling to rope, they will no longer feel at home on the ground. Dismissing his advice, she practices alone, and soon she’s walking the line and the man warms to the thought of being her mentor, though we discover not long after there is reason the rope is so low and why he no longer performs.
Based on the book series by Emily Arnold McCully, O’Hanlon’s adaptation is pretty faithful to the original, bringing to life the unique and colorful story of teacher and student with a gentle touch. Feeling a lot like a live-action musical from the late 1960s – minus the songs – the 28-minute film is a simple tale of finding a dream for one and holding on to it for another. It has no villain and is devoid of conflict, being simply a story of how a little girl who seems invisible to the world can suddenly lift everyone up to the stars. There is a storybook quality to it yes, though is never so fanciful it doesn’t feel authentic. That’s probably O’Hanlon’s greatest achievement, able to capture the magic of the girl’s imagination while keeping it grounded in the world she lives in.
While it embraces a breezy playful tone with amusing characters – the living room of the boardinghouse is always full of costumed performers working their shticks – there is a broader more weighted message that even the youngest of viewers should catch. Little Mirette is quintessential, innocent and hardworking, longing for a chance to bloom and Dixie Egerickx embodies this spirit well, on screen for most of the film. She shares it with some notable names, including the legendary Tom Conti and Miriam Margolyes, both who give Mirette a classic stage vibe.
Still making waves in festivals, this little gem is a delightful catch, skipping grand visual effects and sentimental overtures for a sweet and believable fantasy the whole family can enjoy.