Berlinale Review: 'Mouse' Offers Tender Companion After Loss

Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson's coming-of-age drama explores the complexities of teenage friendship and grief.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Mouse is a poignant coming-of-age drama that follows the story of Minnie, a shy junior high student, and her best friend Callie, a popular and outgoing classmate. When a tragic accident takes Callie's life, Minnie is forced to navigate the grief and loss, finding unexpected solace in the relationship with Callie's mother, Helen. The film delicately explores the nuances of women's friendships and kinship across generations, as Minnie and Helen learn to support each other through their shared pain.

Why it matters

Mouse offers a sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of the complexities of teenage friendship and the grieving process. By focusing on the relationship between Minnie and Helen, the film examines how loss can bring together unlikely companions and how shared experiences can transcend age and social divides. The film's attention to the diverse experiences of grief and its impact on women's relationships makes it a poignant and meaningful exploration of the human experience.

The details

Mouse follows the story of Minnie, a shy and introverted junior high student, and her best friend Callie, a popular and outgoing classmate. The two girls have a close but unconventional friendship, which is tested when a tragic accident takes Callie's life. Minnie is left to navigate her grief and loss, finding unexpected solace in the relationship with Callie's mother, Helen. The film delves into the nuances of their bond, as Minnie and Helen learn to support each other through their shared pain and the complexities of their individual grieving processes.

  • It's the last day of junior high for Minnie and Callie.
  • A tragic accident takes Callie's life early on in the film.

The players

Minnie

The shy and introverted junior high student at the center of the film's story.

Callie

Minnie's popular and outgoing best friend, whose tragic death sets the film's events in motion.

Helen

Callie's stay-at-home mother, who forms an unexpected bond with Minnie as they navigate their shared grief.

Barbara

Minnie's single mother, who is portrayed as scattered, overworked, and stretched thin, but provides a warm and loving home for Minnie and her foster siblings.

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What they’re saying

“If you want to, I can save you//I can take you away from here”

— Michelle Branch, Singer (thefilmstage.com)

What’s next

The film premiered at the 2026 Berlinale and is expected to continue its festival run and seek wider distribution.

The takeaway

Mouse is a poignant and delicate exploration of the complexities of teenage friendship, grief, and the bonds that can form across generations. By focusing on the relationship between Minnie and Helen, the film offers a sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of how shared experiences can transcend age and social divides, providing a tender companion in the face of profound loss.