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Times Have Been Better

Name: Times Have Been Better
Director: Régis Musset
Released: 2006
Duration: 93 min

Representation Score

4.8/10

Fair

2006

Director

Régis Musset

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Times Have Been Better places LGBTQ+ identity at the center of its domestic comedy. By focusing on Jérémy's coming-out process, the film dismantles the facade of his parents' enlightenment. However, the narrow focus on a single, homogeneous family unit limits its broader exploration of diverse identities. Ultimately, the film examines how traditional families navigate modern identities within a conventional cultural setting.

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Category Breakdown

Does Times Have Been Better have LGBTQ+ representation?

Good

The film focuses on Jérémy, a banker who drives the plot by coming out. It avoids including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth by examining the tension between queer identity and traditional family expectations.

How does Times Have Been Better portray gender?

Fair

Gender dynamics highlight the tension between traditional roles and modern autonomy. The film destabilizes the traditional family hierarchy but does not fully deconstruct gender stereotypes.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Times Have Been Better?

Limited

The story seems limited to a homogeneous European family. There is no indication of a diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast within the narrative.

How does Times Have Been Better represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques performative progressive values within a Western context. It highlights the clash between a family's idealized 'enlightened' image and the reality of individual experiences.

Does Times Have Been Better include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not portray any physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Strong LGBTQ+ representation through a protagonist who drives the narrative conflict.
Effective critique of performative progressive values and social facades.
Meaningful exploration of negotiating queer identity within families.

Limited or Absent

Lack of racial and ethnic diversity within the cast and setting.
Limited scope due to a narrow focus on a single domestic unit.
Minimal subversion of traditional gendered archetypes.

Official Synopsis

After moving in with his beau, 30ish banker Jérémy decides to let the cat out of the bag, telling his unsuspecting parents, Guy and Rosine, that he's gay. Though they've always envisioned themselves as enlightened, the news staggers Guy and Rosine -- who are determined to get to the root of Jérémy's homosexuality.

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