DIVASGUIDES: Award-winning THE HEDGEHOG coming to Phoenix Sept. 23

THE HEDGEHOG OPENING
SEPTEMBER 23 IN PHOENIX

“[The Hedgehog] is one of the finest films sampled this year.”

James Verniere of The Boston Herald

“Splendid! ... an exquisite, intimate film of restraint and delicacy”

Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times

“Poignantly celebrates the autonomous inner life”

Stephen Holden, The New York Times

WHAT: THE HEDGEHOG, a touching glimpse of class division seen through the eyes of a soon-to-be 12-year-old, opens in New York and Los Angeles on August 19^th, 2011 and in other selected cities nationwide beginning August 26^th,2011. This French film is released by NeoClassics Films, Ltd.

WHEN: OPENING Friday, Sept. 23, 2011. See local listings for show times.

WHERE: Harkin’s Camelview

7001 East Highland Ave., Scottsdale AZ

MORE: THE HEDGEHOG, Winner, 2010 Seattle International Film Festival and 2010 COLCOA film festival. Winner Filmfest DC 2011. “Best of Fest” 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival.

French with English subtitles. Running Time 98 minutes

Directed by first-time feature director Mona Achache.

Inspired by the New York Times best-seller The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, THE HEDGEHOG is the timely story of Paloma, a young girl bent on “ending it all” before she becomes an adult. Chronicling the hypocrisy she sees in her parents and others with her father’s High-8 camera, Paloma (Garance Le Guillermic) begins to learn about life from the grumpy building “concierge”, Renée Michel (FRENCH TWIST’s Josiane Balasko). When Paloma’s camera reveals an extensive secret library in Renée’s back room, and that the usually gruff matron reads Tolstoy to her cat, Paloma begins to understand that there are allies to be found beneath the prickliest of exteriors. As the unlikely friendship deepens, Paloma’s own coming of age becomes a much less pessimistic prospect.

Praise for The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

“One of the most life-affirming and, well, elegant books I’ve read in a long time.”

-- Chicago Sun-Times

“By turns very funny and heartbreaking”

-- Publisher’s Weekly

“This fable of love, friendship and the beauty of Art not only gives innocence a voice, but also shows what a powerful novel can do: transport, educate and ultimately console.”

-- The Toronto Star

“It’s not beauty that provides a reason for living, but the constant search of it”

-- Time Out New York

“A new book that plumbs the astonishing ways private lives and guarded secrets can come tumbling – for better or for worse – into the open”

-- Vogue