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La Malédiction du lys

Name: La Malédiction du lys
Director: Philippe Niang
Released: 2023
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

6.2/10

Good

2023

Director

Philippe Niang

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

La Malédiction du lys elevates the crime procedural genre by using a murder mystery to explore historical and systemic accountability. The film refuses to present Bordeaux's social fabric as a monolith, instead highlighting the tension between modern prestige and colonial exploitation. The narrative's primary strength lies in its engagement with historical trauma. By focusing on the legacies of the slave trade, the film forces a confrontation with the systemic impact of history on contemporary identity. While the film excels in critiquing racial and cultural issues, it lacks representation in other areas such as LGBTQ+ characters and disability.

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Category Breakdown

Does La Malédiction du lys have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not feature any visible LGBTQ+ characters or relationships. The narrative focuses solely on the investigation of ritualistic murders and the historical ties of the main characters.

How does La Malédiction du lys portray gender?

Fair

Clémence Lacoste portrays a strong female lead as a seasoned police captain. Her tactical skills challenge traditional masculine roles, contrasting with the more office-bound Lieutenant Rosy.

How racially and ethnically diverse is La Malédiction du lys?

Excellent

The story centers on the legacy of the slave trade and its impact on modern Bordeaux. It uses a ritual associated with runaway enslaved people to address historical racial trauma.

How does La Malédiction du lys represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative examines the troubled past of prominent Bordeaux families, challenging the idealized notion of European prosperity. It highlights the buried elements of systemic guilt in local history.

Does La Malédiction du lys include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the film's narrative.

Present on Screen

Sophisticated exploration of the systemic impact of colonial history and racial trauma.
Subversion of gendered hierarchies through a highly competent female lead.
Nuanced deconstruction of regional identity and historical European prosperity.

Limited or Absent

Lack of visible LGBTQ+ characters or relationships.
Absence of representation regarding physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

The body of a real estate developer and candidate for mayor of Bordeaux is found murdered in his home according to a ritual reserved, two centuries earlier, for runaway black slaves. Discovered by his closest friends, all, like the victim, from prominent Bordeaux families with a troubled past during the slave trade. On the spot, Clémence Lacoste, a police captain accustomed to the field and a native Bordelais, is forced to team up with Lieutenant Antoine Rosy, an elegant Parisian more accustomed to the office than the field... To find the killer and stop this series of murders, our two heroes are going to uncover buried elements of Bordeaux's history... but above all of their own past and origins.

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