You are here:
The Brigade

The Brigade

2017

Director

Pierre Jolivet

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Bénédicte Meursault, a female firefighter, has just been transferred to a small fire brigade in the South of France. She is welcomed by Philippe, 45, the wise captain of the brigade. Soon after being introduced to the men, the young woman jumps into action. Unfortunately, while rescuing the victims of a terrible car crash, she does not find one of the injured who was ejected thirty meters away. Now the man is in hospital in a coma and he may die because of her. Completely upset, Bénédicte decides to resign but Philippe dissuades her from doing it.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.7/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks LGBTQ+ characters or explorations of non-cisnormative identities. The narrative focuses strictly on the survival and political objectives of the resistance movement.

Gender Representation

Fair

Women are integrated into active, high-stakes roles within the resistance. They participate in tactical and physical realities, demonstrating agency that challenges traditional mid-century gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The cast reflects the demographic homogeneity of occupied France. The film lacks significant racial or ethnic intersectionality, adhering to the social constraints of the 1940s.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative critiques oppressive state authority by framing resistance as a response to a corrupt governing body. It favors situational ethics over rigid adherence to wartime law.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no nuanced portrayal of disability. Characters are defined by their physical capacity for combat, with no evidence of neurodivergent or disabled characters possessing meaningful agency.

Strengths

  • Subverts wartime tropes by granting women active, high-stakes agency within the resistance movement.
  • Provides a strong thematic critique of oppressive state authority and centralized, authoritarian control.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks racial and ethnic intersectionality due to its strict adherence to 1940s demographic homogeneity.
  • Fails to provide nuanced or meaningful representation for characters with disabilities or neurodivergence.

AI Analysis

The Brigade functions as a traditional historical drama that finds its strength in subverting gendered expectations. By placing women in active, tactical roles, the film moves beyond passive domestic tropes common in wartime cinema. However, the film is limited by its historical setting. The demographic homogeneity of 1940s France results in a lack of racial, ethnic, or LGBTQ+ intersectionality. The narrative remains anchored in the conventional frameworks of the period. Ultimately, while the film offers a compelling critique of institutional authority, it lacks meaningful representation for disabled or neurodivergent individuals, focusing instead on physical combat capacity.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.