The Little Thief (French: La Petite Voleuse) is a 1989 French drama directed by Claude Miller. It is based upon an unfinished script by François Truffaut. Truffaut died before being able to direct the film himself. The film had 1,834,940 admissions in France.
Plot
In post-War II France, 16-year-old Janine lives with her uncle and aunt whilst longing for contact from her absent mother. She is already an accomplished petty thief, stealing items such as lingerie and cigarettes. On quitting school, she works as a maid and secretly sees an older choirmaster, whilst courting a young bike racer. Never alone, yet never quite attached, Janine's frustration at her internal life leads her towards mishaps, friendships, and enemies.
In a small town in post-World-War-II France, an unhappy sixteen-year-old (Janine Castang) tries to escape her dreary situation by any means at her disposal. Three successive friends (Michel Davenne, a married lover; Raoul, a fellow thief; Mauricette Dargelos, a photographer and fellow prisoner) help her learn from her mistakes.
Cast
Charlotte Gainsbourg as Janine Castang
Didier Bezace as Michel Davenne
Simon de La Brosse as Raoul
Clotilde de Bayser as Severine Longuet
Raoul Billerey as Oncle André Rouleau
Chantal Banlier as Tante Léa
Nathalie Cardone as Mauricette
Renée Faure as Mère Busato
Chantal Neuwirth as The farmer
Catherine Arditi as School director
Dominique Besnehard
Jacky Nercessian
Directed by Claude Miller
Produced by Claude Berri et al
Written by François Truffaut, Luc Béraud, Annie Miller, Claude Miller, Claude de Givray
Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg Didier Bezace Simon de La Brosse
Release date 1989 (France)
Running time 103 minutes
Country France
Language French
Box office $1,055,416 (USA)
Source: Wikipedia, IMDb