Controversy Over Incorrect Age Rating for “La Petite Dernière” on Google
Mislabeling Sparks Confusion and Frustration
Upon its release on October 22, Hafsia Herzi’s new film La Petite Dernière encountered an unexpected online issue: Google inaccurately marked the movie as “Restricted to audiences 18 and older.” This error led to widespread confusion and concern, especially since the film was officially cleared for viewers of all ages.
For days, the mistaken age rating remained on Google’s listing, causing unnecessary concern among potential viewers and frustration for the film’s team. Director and lead actress Hafsia Herzi expressed her dismay in an interview with Libération:
“It’s incredibly frustrating. We can’t understand how something like this slipped through. I received messages on Instagram from people who thought I had made an adult film, or who said they chose not to bring their daughters because they saw the ’18+ Only’ label. It’s completely absurd.”
Originally categorized under “Drama / Coming-of-Age”, the movie’s listing was marred by the inappropriate age restriction. It wasn’t until an hour after Libération‘s article went live that the listing was finally corrected, replacing the false label with the accurate classification: “Approved for all audiences.”
Two Weeks of Inaction Despite Multiple Requests
The error persisted for nearly two weeks, despite repeated attempts by the film’s distributor, Ad Vitam, to have the listing corrected through Google’s official channels. Although Google initially responded with assurances that the issue would be resolved “quickly,” no update occurred for days.
The distribution team faced multiple obstacles, including rigid automated systems and prolonged difficulty in proving their authority to request the change. Growing concern led the team to even consider issuing a formal legal warning in an effort to expedite resolution.
Google’s Knowledge Graph Raises Questions
According to a statement from Google, the incorrect information originated from its Knowledge Graph—an automated system that compiles data from various online sources and trusted partners.
“Our information boxes are automatically generated by assessing publicly available online content. Some of the information comes from reputable partners, and other parts are sourced from the broader web.”
The issue lies in the system’s lack of transparency. With no way to determine exactly where the incorrect label came from, it became impossible to trace the origin. Neither official film databases nor recognized movie platforms listed the film as age-restricted. The only speculations about adult content came from scattered, unverified user comments.
A Universal Story Misjudged
La Petite Dernière tells the story of Fatima, a young woman from a working-class family navigating her sexual identity, cultural traditions, and city life. The lead performance by Nadia Melliti brings a sincere, human element to the story.
The film’s content does not contain anything inappropriate for younger viewers. France’s national classification board placed no restrictions on the movie — not even for under-12 audiences.
“Calling a coming-of-age story ‘18+’ is just ridiculous,” joked Hafsia Herzi.
Potential Long-Term Effects
Although Google has since corrected the error, the damage may already be done. Viewers who saw the “18+ Only” label could have avoided the film unnecessarily, believing it contained explicit material. For an independent production relying heavily on online discoverability and word-of-mouth, such errors can have serious repercussions.
Despite the setback, La Petite Dernière is performing well, having attracted over 250,000 admissions and screened at 424 theaters across France. Officially classified as suitable for all audiences, the film offers a touching, socially relevant narrative that deserves to be seen without misinformation standing in the way.
🟣 Key Takeaways
- Google mistakenly labeled La Petite Dernière as “18+ Only.”
- The error lasted two weeks, despite multiple correction requests.
- The film was approved for all ages by the French classification board.
- The label has since been corrected, but it may have impacted film attendance and visibility.