Little Amélie Expands in U.S. Theaters as Critics Hail Its Pastel 2D Vision

The child’s-eye storytelling centers on Amélie’s bond with her nanny in late-1960s Japan.

Overview

Now playing in U.S. theaters following a Nov. 7 expansion after select early engagements.
Directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, the feature adapts Amélie Nothomb’s autobiographical novel.
Told from a toddler’s perspective, the film foregrounds interior experience and a formative caregiver relationship with Nishio.
Critics single out the 2D picture-book aesthetic, with rain and outdoor landscapes noted as standout sequences.
At 77–78 minutes, reviews praise the emotional clarity while noting occasional narrative thinness and a sometimes intrusive score by Mari Fukuhara.