New Showbiz

You are here:
Divines

Divines

2016

Director

Houda Benyamina

Runtime

105 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

In a ghetto where religion and drug trafficking rub shoulders, Dounia has a lust for power and success. Supported by Maimouna, her best friend, she decides to follow in the footsteps of Rebecca, a respected dealer. But her encounter with Djigui, a young, disturbingly sensual dancer, throws her off course.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

8.0/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film focuses on intense, survival-based bonds between female protagonists. While it explores sensuality through Djigui, it does not center on queer narratives or non-heteronormative identities.

Gender Representation

Excellent

Women are portrayed as ambitious drivers of their own destinies rather than victims. The narrative prioritizes female solidarity and deconstructs traditional masculinity through its central sisterhood.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The cast authentically reflects the multicultural reality of French suburbs, featuring predominantly Black, North African, and Arab women. This centering of multi-ethnic identities challenges Eurocentric cinematic norms.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The story critiques Western institutions and portrays socioeconomic structures as restrictive forces. It emphasizes chosen familial bonds over traditional family units within the community.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that serve as central plot points in the narrative.

Strengths

  • Authentic, multi-ethnic casting that reflects the complex post-colonial reality of the French suburbs.
  • Strong emphasis on female agency and sisterhood, disrupting traditional gender hierarchies.
  • Sophisticated critique of systemic exclusion and the restrictive nature of Western institutions.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative narratives.
  • Absence of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

AI Analysis

Houda Benyamina’s debut is a powerful exercise in intersectional storytelling. By centering the lives of women in the French banlieues, the film disrupts mainstream cinematic perspectives and prioritizes lived experiences of marginalized groups. The film excels by weaving race, gender, and class into a cohesive critique of systemic barriers. It avoids tokenism, instead using the characters' multi-ethnic identities to drive a deep, systemic characterization of their socioeconomic struggles. While the film lacks LGBTQ+ centering, its strength lies in its refusal to adhere to traditional patriarchal structures. It successfully replaces conventional social drama tropes with a narrative of agency and community-driven survival.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Gender Representation in Film
  • Best Racial & Ethnic Representation in Film
  • Best Religious & Cultural Representation in Film

Similar Movies

Movie poster for She Paradise

She Paradise

2021

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 7.6 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.