Prudence Friedmann (Léa Seydoux) is 17 years old and lives alone in her family's Paris apartment after the sudden death of her mother. Her father is away on business in Canada, and her sister has withdrawn into herself. After a failed shoplifting attempt, Prudence meets Maryline (Agathe Schlenker), a girl her own age, at the police station, who introduces her to the world of illegal motorcycle racing in Rungis. Fascinated by the scene and searching for a sense of belonging, Prudence begins to befriend its members, including Reynald and Franck.

Despite warnings from her cousin Sonia (Anaïs Demoustier), who criticizes her for not observing Jewish mourning traditions, Prudence throws herself into this new world. She begins a relationship with Franck (Johan Libéreau), but it ends abruptly when he rejects her. Shortly afterwards, Franck is killed in a motorcycle accident. Only then does Prudence break down emotionally and begin to come to terms with the loss of her mother.

DEAR PRUDENCE (original title: BELLE ÉPINE) is Rebecca Zlotowski's feature film debut and premiered in 2010 at the Semaine de la Critique at the Cannes Film Festival. The film won the Louis Delluc Prize for Best First Film and earned Léa Seydoux a César nomination for Best Young Actress. Zlotowski, a graduate of La Fémis, wrote the screenplay together with Gaëlle Macé. The music is by Robin Coudert, and the cinematography is by Georges Lechaptois.

With DEAR PRUDENCE, Zlotowski succeeds in creating a sensitive portrait of a young woman torn between grief, rebellion, and the search for identity. The film captivates with its authentic portrayal of youth culture and Léa Seydoux's haunting performance.