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Umbrella Coup

Name: Umbrella Coup
Director: Gérard Oury
Released: 1980
Duration: 95 min

Representation Score

1.9/10

Minimal

1980

Director

Gérard Oury

Runtime

95 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Umbrella Coup is a traditional comedy that emphasizes slapstick and mistaken identity over social commentary. The film follows the standard narrative structures of 1980s French cinema, focusing on a male protagonist involved in a criminal misunderstanding. It maintains a traditional approach, offering limited engagement with identity politics or the deconstruction of systemic power. The film serves primarily as a vehicle for situational irony and comedic timing, reflecting the social landscape of its time. The movie lacks the intentionality needed to challenge established hierarchies or provide meaningful perspectives on multiple aspects of identity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Umbrella Coup have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or perspectives. It focuses on a traditional comedic setup without engaging with non-straight identities.

How does Umbrella Coup portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around a male-dominated criminal group and the main character. Women play secondary roles, reinforcing traditional gender dynamics of the time.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Umbrella Coup?

Limited

The cast is homogenous, reflecting the social norms of 1980s France. There is no indication of diverse casting that challenges these norms.

How does Umbrella Coup represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film uses slapstick humor to depict bumbling criminals, avoiding deeper critiques of societal issues. It leans towards situational comedy rather than addressing broader cultural themes.

Does Umbrella Coup include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities, nor are such conditions central to the plot or character development.

Present on Screen

The film presents a clear, high-concept premise centered on mistaken identity and slapstick humor.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks diverse representation, focusing almost entirely on a male-dominated ensemble.
The film does not engage with LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight perspectives.
Character archetypes reflect a homogeneous social landscape typical of the era.

Official Synopsis

Grégoire Lecomte, the unlucky actor anxious to find a "real job", goes to take a screen test for a role of a killer, but gets to mafiosi by mistake. He takes their don for a producer, and they mistake him for a hitman with whom they had an appointment. Deluded Lecomte signs contract with them. He is supposed to kill gun dealer Otto Krampe at his birthday party in Saint-Tropez by piercing him with a cap of the umbrella with a built-in syringe with potassium cyanide. Lecomte is not aware that it has to be a real murder.

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