Character Relationship Map: Cuties

Characters

• Amy (played by Fathia Youssouf) — protagonist

  11-year-old Senegalese girl living in Paris. She struggles between her family's traditional Muslim customs and a fascination with the provocative twerking dance group, the Cuties. Her attempts to gain...

• Angelica (played by Medina El Aidi) — protagonist

  Amy's disobedient neighbor who leads a pre-teen twerking dance group called the Cuties, which starkly contrasts with Amy's family's Muslim customs.

• Yasmine (played by Myriam Hamma) — supporting

  A former member of the Cuties dance group who replaces Amy after Amy is kicked out. Amy later pushes Yasmine into a canal to force the group to accept her back for the finale performance.

• Mariam (played by Maïmouna Gueye) — supporting

  Amy's mother who upholds Muslim customs and confronts Amy over her explicit online photo and provocative behavior. She initially tries an exorcism with Amy's aunt but later defends Amy, offers reassur...

• Sweety Swag (played by Canelle Brival) — minor
• Aunt (played by Mbissine Thérèse Diop) — supporting

  A relative who attempts to impose traditional Islamic culture on Amy. She participates in a failed exorcism and later blames Amy for her provocative outfit and attitude, prompting Mariam to intervene...

• Angelica's Brother (played by Jean-Paul Castro) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Angelica's Brother → Angelica (brother)
• Angelica → Yasmine (Power Group Leader And Member) — Their relationship is defined by Angelica's leadership and Yasmine's membership.

  Angelica leads the Cuties, and Yasmine replaces Amy as a member of the group.

• Aunt → Amy (Family Aunt) — Aunt represents familial pressure toward religious and cultural conformity.

  The plot identifies Aunt as a relative who seeks to impose Islamic culture on Amy and later participates in the failed exorcism.

• Mariam → Aunt (Family Ally) — They cooperate in enforcing a traditional response to Amy's behavior.

  Mariam's sister or relative, referred to as Aunt, participates with Mariam in trying an exorcism on Amy.

• Amy → Mariam (Family Daughter) — A strained but protective mother-daughter relationship shaped by cultural expectations and maternal reassurance.

  The plot states that Amy lives with her mother Mariam. Mariam confronts Amy about the explicit photo, later defends her, hugs her, and allows her to a...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Angelica → Amy (related)
• Angelica → Sweety Swag (Conflict Dance Rival) — Angelica's group is positioned against the Sweety Swags in a competitive dance rivalry.

  Angelica's Cuties are described as opposing the older rival group, the Sweety Swags.

• Amy → Sweety Swag (Conflict Dance Rival) — The rivalry exposes Amy to humiliation and escalates her desire for recognition.

  The Cuties adopt revealing outfits in opposition to the older rivals, the Sweety Swags. Amy is also pantsed after fighting with Sweety Swags.

• Amy → Yasmine (Conflict Replacement Rival) — Their rivalry directly affects Amy's return to the final performance.

  Yasmine replaces Amy in the Cuties after Amy is kicked out. Amy later pushes Yasmine into a canal to regain her place in the finale.

• Amy → Angelica (Social Neighbor) — Angelica's behavior introduces Amy to a contrasting adolescent social world.

  Angelica is identified as Amy's disobedient neighbor. Amy becomes fascinated by Angelica's twerking clique, the Cuties.

Story Analysis

Amy navigates the collision between family tradition, peer performance culture, online validation, and her own emerging sense of self.

Plot Progression

1. Between Home and Dance — Amy struggles against family customs while becoming fascinated by Angelica and the Cuties. The dance group offers an exciting alternative to the expectations surrounding her.
2. The Cost of Recognition — Amy joins the Cuties and intensifies their choreography to seek online attention. Humiliation by rival dancers pushes her toward a reckless attempt to appear mature.
3. Exile and Family Pressure — Amy's explicit online photo backfires, leading to ostracism and her replacement by Yasmine. Mariam and Aunt respond with confrontation and a failed exorcism.
4. The Dangerous Return — Amy sneaks out to reach the Cuties' finale at Parc de la Villette. She pushes Yasmine into a canal so the group will let her perform again.
5. Tears Before Adulthood — The suggestive finale polarizes the audience, but Amy thinks of Mariam and leaves in tears. Mariam protects her and permits her to reject the wedding, while choosing her own duty.