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Normal

Normal

2023

Director

Olivier Babinet

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

14-year-old Lucie is a resourceful teenager who takes care of her loving yet unreliable father, William, who has multiple sclerosis. Whilst William hangs out in his wardrobe and devises pranks and jokes to make his daughter smile, Lucie tries her best at school while juggling a job in a sandwich shop and all the chores at home. Her vividly imaginative mind and the novel she is writing are her only distractions. But when a social worker is appointed to visit them, Lucie and William elaborate a complex plan to make social services believe they live a perfectly normal life.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.8/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film focuses on unconventional domesticity rather than explicit queer identities. While no non-heteronormative romantic arcs are detailed, the subversion of standard family units creates an inclusive atmosphere.

Gender Representation

Good

Lucie subverts traditional hierarchies by acting as the household's primary authority and emotional anchor. The film shifts the masculine archetype by portraying the father through a lens of vulnerability and playfulness.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Minimal

There is insufficient information regarding the racial composition of the cast or the ethnic dynamics of the setting.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The narrative critiques Western institutionalism by framing social services as an intrusive, adversarial force. It prioritizes subjective emotional truth over the rigid, moralistic standards of organized societal norms.

Disability Representation

Excellent

Multiple Sclerosis is integrated into the domestic ecosystem rather than used as a mere plot device. The film avoids inspiration porn by focusing on the taxing realities of chronic illness.

Strengths

  • Nuanced portrayal of disability that avoids 'inspiration porn' tropes.
  • Effective subversion of traditional gender roles and domestic hierarchies.
  • Strong critique of institutional surveillance and rigid societal norms.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit information regarding racial and ethnic diversity.
  • Absence of clear evidence regarding LGBTQ+ representation or character arcs.

AI Analysis

Normale offers a poignant deconstruction of the traditional family hierarchy. By centering a fourteen-year-old girl as the primary caregiver for her father, the film challenges conventional notions of childhood innocence and parental responsibility. The portrayal of disability is particularly nuanced, treating William's condition as a fundamental element of the family's daily reality. This avoids reductive tropes, instead focusing on how chronic illness reshapes power dynamics and domestic labor. While the film excels in gender subversion and disability representation, it lacks specific information regarding racial or LGBTQ+ identities. However, its critique of systemic institutional oversight provides a strong cultural foundation.

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