Peppermint Soda is a slice-of-life film made during the French New Wave, written and directed by first-time filmmaker Diane Kurys. Frustrated by how women were being portrayed at the time (most French New Wave films were led by male auteurs), she wanted to offer something more authentic. Drawing from her own experiences, she created a film that feels deeply personal, and that honesty is felt throughout—especially in the relationship between the two sisters, which stands as one of the most authentic and affecting portrayals of sisterhood not just in the French New Wave, but in films in general.
The story follows one school year in the lives of 13-year-old Anne and 15-year-old Frédérique, from the day that marks the end of their vacation to when school is finally over. We accompany them through classes with strict teachers, gym routines, first crushes, and small daily battles. The two couldn’t be more different—one shy and sensitive, the other socially conscious and independent. At times, it feels like they don’t even like each other (especially the older toward the younger), but you never doubt that they love each other. With both parents absorbed in their own post-divorce problems, the girls slowly realize that their strongest bond is with each other.
Even if, like me, you don’t usually gravitate toward slice-of-life cinema—and if feeling natural and real isn’t why you watch movies—the school setting might still make you nostalgic for your own classroom days, and the dynamic between the sisters might remind you of relationships from your own life. The film is full of standout individual scenes, like when the mom forces Frédérique to tear up her love letters for being “too young for that,” or when a teacher gets stuck during a warm-up routine—small but vivid moments that stick with you.
There are points where the film jumps around a little too much between episodes and sometimes loses focus, especially when it shifts to the adults. (There’s also a very uncomfortable kiss that, for me, crossed a line.) But even so, the film surprises with how well the emotional arcs are developed. When a friend returns after being absent for a long stretch, it quietly signals how much time has passed. It all builds to a beautiful, understated moment after a school play: Frédérique, disappointed by the adults—and more specifically, the men—in her life, breaks down, and her younger sister is there to comfort her. It’s a small, wordless gesture, but in that instant, you feel both of them stepping out of childhood together.
Peppermint Soda may not offer big dramatic swings, but its honesty, authentic performances, gentleness, and emotional truth make it a quietly rewarding coming-of-age film. Like the soda in the title, it’s sweet and nostalgic—even if it may not fully replace a full meal.