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What Men Want

Name: What Men Want
Director: Rudolf Havlík
Released: 2018
Duration: 95 min

Representation Score

4.9/10

Fair

2018

Director

Rudolf Havlík

Runtime

95 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film uses a high-concept premise to challenge established gender hierarchies and the male gaze. By transforming a chauvinistic protagonist into a woman, the narrative critiques traditional masculinity and professional power shifts. While the film excels at exploring gendered identity and social standing, it lacks breadth in other areas. The focus remains narrow, centered primarily on the protagonist's personal and professional downfall. Ultimately, the work functions as a targeted exploration of gendered power dynamics rather than a broad study of multi-layered identity.

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Category Breakdown

Does What Men Want have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story revolves around a supernatural transformation that disrupts gender identity, allowing a man to experience life as a woman. This explores gender fluidity by changing his perspective.

How does What Men Want portray gender?

Excellent

The film challenges traditional gender hierarchies by replacing a chauvinistic male editor with a young woman. It critiques patriarchal entitlement by removing the protagonist's professional status and social advantages.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What Men Want?

Limited

There is no evidence of a diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast. The narrative focuses on localized interpersonal conflicts without mention of racial blending or multi-layered casting.

How does What Men Want represent religion and culture?

Good

The story examines the breakdown of traditional social roles and family structures, highlighting friction between the protagonist and his daughter. This suggests a critique of older generational values.

Does What Men Want include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not provide any information about the depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Effectively challenges traditional male-dominated corporate hierarchies.
Provides a meaningful exploration of gender fluidity through a transformative narrative.
Critiques chauvinistic social structures and patriarchal entitlement.

Limited or Absent

Lacks significant racial or ethnic diversity within the cast.
Does not represent physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Focuses narrowly on gender dynamics without broader multi-layered identities.

Official Synopsis

The charismatic and self-confident man, Karel Král, is the editor-in-chief of men's magazine. Although a chauvinistic type, he is very popular with women. However, he struggles in his personal life. He frequently argues with his ex-wife over their 17 year-old daughter Julie, who despises his new way of life. Then the consequences of his behavior catch up with him. He loses his job, and the editor-in-chief position is given to a young and beautiful woman. But his bad luck does not end there. After another fight with his ex-wife and daughter, and a woman driver crashing into his car, Karel and his best friend Cestmír have an evening of binge drinking. During the wild night, he expresses a wish to be a woman. When he wakes up the next morning he discovers that his wish has been granted.

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