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La petite femelle

Name: La petite femelle
Director: Philippe Faucon
Released: 2021
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2021

Director

Philippe Faucon

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Philippe Faucon’s drama uses a historical criminal case to examine the tension between individual empowerment and systemic social structures. By centering on Pauline Dubuisson, the film moves beyond a standard crime procedural to explore how mid-century society reacts to female emancipation. The film successfully challenges traditional gender roles and questions institutional morality. It effectively positions the protagonist's struggle against the collective judgment of a rigid social order. However, the period setting limits racial diversity, reflecting the era's demographic reality. The lack of information regarding disability representation also leaves that dimension of diversity unaddressed.

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Category Breakdown

Does La petite femelle have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film explores a relationship that challenges 1950s social norms. While specific sexual orientations are not explicitly stated, the focus on freedom suggests a critique of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does La petite femelle portray gender?

Good

Pauline is portrayed as a free spirit who asserts her independence against rigid domestic life. This disrupts traditional submissive female stereotypes and critiques patriarchal legal institutions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is La petite femelle?

Limited

The 1953 French setting suggests a homogeneous social environment. The narrative appears to reflect the demographic constraints of that specific historical era.

How does La petite femelle represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story prioritizes personal morality over institutional justice. It challenges the singular morality of the French state by positioning national institutions as oppressive forces.

Does La petite femelle include disability representation?

Minimal

The narrative provides no evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Strong challenge to traditional gender roles and female stereotypes.
Sophisticated critique of patriarchal legal and social institutions.
Effective use of moral relativism to challenge mid-century social norms.

Limited or Absent

Limited racial and ethnic diversity due to the historical setting.
Lack of representation regarding physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

November, 1953. Pauline Dubuisson is accused of the cold-bloodied murder of her lover Félix. But who exactly is this young woman that the whole of France wants to see convicted? A cold calculating social climber? Or a free spirit, asserting her emancipation before it became fashionable?

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