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When the Pheasants Pass

Name: When the Pheasants Pass
Director: Édouard Molinaro
Released: 1965
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

0.8/10

Minimal

1965

Director

Édouard Molinaro

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This 1965 comedy is a product of its era, prioritizing character-driven situational irony over social commentary. The narrative centers on small-time crooks and their various deceptions, maintaining a traditional demographic profile. The film lacks intentionality regarding the way different parts of someone's identity overlap or the disruption of social hierarchies. It functions as a standard comedy of its time, focusing on individual greed rather than systemic critique. While specific ethnic backgrounds like Portuguese are mentioned, the ensemble remains largely homogeneous, and gender roles follow established provincial norms.

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Category Breakdown

Does When the Pheasants Pass have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. It stays within traditional social frameworks without addressing queer themes or challenges to the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does When the Pheasants Pass portray gender?

Limited

Gender roles in the film remain traditional within a French provincial setting. Mrs. Paterson, a charming widow, exerts influence, but the film does not challenge gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is When the Pheasants Pass?

Limited

The cast is predominantly homogeneous, reflecting mid-1960s cinematic norms. The inclusion of Ribeiro, a Portuguese contractor, adds ethnic specificity, but the overall casting lacks broader racial and ethnic diversity.

How does When the Pheasants Pass represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative focuses on the absurdity of human greed and swindling, avoiding critiques of Western institutions like religion or the family. It adheres to standard comedic clichés.

Does When the Pheasants Pass include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not focus on physical or neurodivergent disabilities. Characters are defined by their socioeconomic status and comedic roles rather than any visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

The character of Ribeiro introduces specific ethnic background through his Portuguese identity.
Mrs. Paterson provides a moment of female influence within the comedic framework.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks LGBTQ+ representation and queer themes.
The cast is predominantly homogeneous, lacking racial and ethnic diversity.
Gender dynamics follow traditional hierarchies without significant subversion.
There is no representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Arsène Baudu and Hyacinthe, a pair of small-time crooks, fall prey to Alexandre Larsan-Bellac, who involves them (against their will) in high-profile swindling, but their success is quite limited. For starters they are deceived by Mrs. Paterson, a charming widow. Later on, Ribeiro, a Portuguese contractor and former victim of the two crooks, traces them and forces them to work on one of his building sites for damages. Just then, Larsan-Bellac resurfaces with plans to lure Ribeiro once again. —Guy Bellinger

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