Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile is a French language foreign
film that follows the comedic tale of Damien, a modern day, sexist, Parisian who
suffers an accident and is thrown into an alternate reality where gender norms
are completely reversed in every tangible way possible.
The film touches on a
multitude of issues related to how almost everything in this world is male-dominated.
Shedding light on just how patriarchal our society is, from little details to widespread
global issues.
I went into the film with a fair share of doubt, but found
the film to be incredibly well-made, funny, intriguing, entertaining and profound.
So those of you doubting whether this film is worth it,
watch it. The narrative is so original and offers a very challenging perspective.
Synopsis
As stated above, Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile
follows it’s main character Damien. A 40-year old successful, swashbuckling
marketing exec.
In his mind, he is the ultimate man. He has a good job, is talented, all men want to be him and all women want to be with him. He lives his life like a bachelor drunk on bravado, moving from woman to woman like it’s a sport.
In his mind, he is the ultimate man. He has a good job, is talented, all men want to be him and all women want to be with him. He lives his life like a bachelor drunk on bravado, moving from woman to woman like it’s a sport.
Both in his professional and personal life he (like many businessmen
in positions of power) looks down on his female counterparts. Believing that
his success is attributed to his own pain-staking work, while demeaning the importance
and significance of others (mainly women) who help him on his way.
However as it is, Damien is in for a rude awakening. One day
he meets a female author through work at a book launch who denies his advances. After their meeting,
Damien leaves with a male friend, walking down the street and gets knocked out
when he takes a blow to the head.
He awakes in the arms of a couple of paramedics and his
tear-ridden friend. Damien is more confused than hurt over the next couple of
days as the world around him seems a little funny.
Everyone is treating him different, people are dressed in the weirdest of clothes, more and more women are complimenting him on his looks (even cat-calling him on the street) and he has been demoted at work.
Everyone is treating him different, people are dressed in the weirdest of clothes, more and more women are complimenting him on his looks (even cat-calling him on the street) and he has been demoted at work.
The remainder of the film follows Damien as he struggles to
find footing in this new female-dominated world he is in. On his journey to
find out what is going on, his path crosses with the female author he met
earlier.
There, he discovers just how embarrassingly different everything in this society is.
There, he discovers just how embarrassingly different everything in this society is.
Important Themes
Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile touches on a topic that most
people take for granted. That is, just how male-oriented our global society is.
It is a film that challenges your personal world perspective, as well as giving a fresh aspect of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in today’s day and age.
It is a film that challenges your personal world perspective, as well as giving a fresh aspect of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in today’s day and age.
In every country on earth, men are put ahead of women.
Whether if that is in terms of parents loving their sons more than their daughters, men creating policies on women’s bodies, the hyper-sexualisation of women and the wide held belief that men should hold higher positions of power and influence.
Whether if that is in terms of parents loving their sons more than their daughters, men creating policies on women’s bodies, the hyper-sexualisation of women and the wide held belief that men should hold higher positions of power and influence.
Whether you like it or not (or if you aren’t always aware of it at times)
roles of women in society are often downcasted in comparison to men.
Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile does a terrific job of pointing out these types differences by turning the tables on its main character.
Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile does a terrific job of pointing out these types differences by turning the tables on its main character.
Let’s go through some real world examples.
First, it’s hard to not start with Donald Trump. The man is
a walking, talking maniac with an illustrious sexist, racist, xenophobic and
sexual misconduct history.
He is the epitome of male chauvinism and ego. A prime example of a rich white man who takes credit for other people’s success, while articulating disgusting hate-speech with his power.
He is the epitome of male chauvinism and ego. A prime example of a rich white man who takes credit for other people’s success, while articulating disgusting hate-speech with his power.
Last year he won the American presidential race against the
most qualified candidate in American history. Despite having no political experience, multiple bankruptcies, failed businesses, failed marriages, ties to the KKK and several of cases of rape and sexual misdemeanor in his past. He was even recorded
saying:
“You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the p*ssy. You can do anything.”
And yet the American people still elected him into office over the most qualified candidate in history (even though any of the above linked scandals would destroy any female politician's career).
“You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the p*ssy. You can do anything.”
And yet the American people still elected him into office over the most qualified candidate in history (even though any of the above linked scandals would destroy any female politician's career).
Now let’s look at the world of sports. Women are often
regarded as inferior to men, as men are typically regarded to be faster, bigger
and stronger.
But even when it comes to competitive sports where women are competing against other women (independent from men) people judge them on their looks or how marketable a woman is.
But even when it comes to competitive sports where women are competing against other women (independent from men) people judge them on their looks or how marketable a woman is.
Let’s take tennis for example. People will always talk about
the Maria Sharapova’s, the Eugenie Bouchard’s and the Anna Kournikova’s. Despite them not being top athletes. As well as judging
other athletes on their looks or femininity, rather than their success.
Even
with Serena Williams’ domination over the sport
for the past decade, many judge her on her looks and lack of femininity.
To the point where she is drug tested way more than other athletes, can’t wear specific athletic-aiding equipment or simply being called a man by critics. The sort of story follows middle distance runner Caster Semenya in the world of athletics as well.
To the point where she is drug tested way more than other athletes, can’t wear specific athletic-aiding equipment or simply being called a man by critics. The sort of story follows middle distance runner Caster Semenya in the world of athletics as well.
These are just a couple of examples of how patriarchal our
society is. There is no book large enough to fit all of the modern day examples
I could talk about.
Conclusion
Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile is an incredible film. It is insanely
comedic, entertaining and so, so original.
As stated in my introduction, I went into the film as a
skeptic, not expecting much.
Instead, I was met with a spectacular film, full of poignant eye-opening themes. I don’t say this often, but Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile is a must watch.
Instead, I was met with a spectacular film, full of poignant eye-opening themes. I don’t say this often, but Je ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile is a must watch.
The film offers doses of hilarity, confusion, entertainment,
truth and hard to swallow realities. It is much more than a so-called “feminist
film”.
It is a film that focuses on widespread human issues and will change the way you think about the world around you.
It is a film that focuses on widespread human issues and will change the way you think about the world around you.
