The Little Match Girl

The Little Match Girl

Directed by Jean Renoir

Produced by Jean Tedesco

192838 min6.9 / 10

A melancholic silent-era fable about a desperate child's final moments, blending harsh realism with transcendent visions.

An impoverished girl tries to sell matches on New Year's Eve. Shivering with cold and unable to sell her wares, she sits in a sheltered nook. Striking a match to keep warm, the flame shows her what's beyond.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Little Match Girl sad? Yes, very. More sad than 99% of films.

  • Is The Little Match Girl violent? No. Less violent than 92% of films.

  • Is The Little Match Girl scary? Barely. Less frightening than 76% of films.

  • Is The Little Match Girl easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.

  • Does The Little Match Girl end with hope? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

79/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity96

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise78

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love65

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Little Match Girl

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Little Match Girl

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Little Match Girl, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Little Match Girl, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Little Match Girl, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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