It’s not widely known, but George Lucas’ main inspiration for the powers of the Force in the Star Wars movies were inspired by his years growing up in France, where he witnessed firsthand les petites filles des ténèbres, which translates to “little girls of darkness.” These were female children that lived in group homes in French towns and, for a fee, would move objects via telekinesis. Usually, their rates were affordable enough that entire streets of people would have them move their cars out of their driveway with their mind-powers, just so they could have a more leisurely breakfast. That’s what we’re seeing here, with this Citroën Ami and the petite fille des ténèbres there.
In this shot, she’s pulled the car out of the driveway and onto the street, and the dad/Ami owner is just now getting into the car, ready to drop his kid at school and start his day. They were often employed in groups to move pianos up into skyscraper windows, and in the 1924 Paris Olympics, a group of 200 of them performed a dazzling display of sending Renault taxis through the floating Olympic rings, to the delight of the crowd.
By the 1980s, pressures from anti-witchcraft religious groups and the increasing affordability of diesel-powered telekinesis machines effectively ended the era of the filles des ténèbres.
I love this story.
Thank you
Articles like this are exactly why I’m a paying member of this fine automotive website.
Jason, you are one month ahead of your time. Today is March 1st, not April 1st.
This is giving me “establishing-shot-in-Wes-Anderson-movie” vibes, just down the rue from the Chambres des Jeunes Filles.
Pierre: C’mon Estelle get in Dad’s car! We’re gonna be late for school again!
Estelle: No. Not until place Gisele on the hood for my friends to see.
Pierre: For the final time, Nobody can see your imaginary unicorn Gisele!!!
This commercial ran on French TV during the Superbowl showing a Citroën Ami running over small children.
I think they are just arriving at that famous school for undercover cop, it’s clearly at the 21 jump street, and she is just trying top be ami with the guy in the ami who is the young Johnny Depp (she’ll probably regret that later)
Wait…isn’t that girl Mark Hamil’s French cousin Marie Hamil? You know the one who showed him how to pose like a Jedi that one summer in Nice?
Or maybe I am mistaken?
Lucas inspired by darkness. Well done!
This photo just makes me want an Ami.
Moi aussi.
” The power of Christ compels you…..”
HAIL SATAN!
Hail Satin.
Hale Satin
You sure she isn’t trying to chop the boys head off with the sliding window?
Oh, you.. 🙂
I think the less ominous explanation is she missed the bus and is hitchhiking to school
First they came for our telekinetic children, now they want us to drive EVs. WHERE WILL IT END!?
The Ami looks like it’s frozen in the act of recoiling in horror.
Resisting being pulled forward with all its might
It saw itself in the mirror
Every now and then I wonder if you need to get your water checked for contaminants.
i would laugh if it turns out torch is the one living on a superfund site and not davids old house
I live right by a superfund site. They’re more common than most people would think they are.
May the farce be with you.