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Cheers to Joy

Name: Cheers to Joy
Director: Jérôme Bonnell
Released: 2023
Duration: 108 min

Representation Score

8.5/10

Excellent

2023

Director

Jérôme Bonnell

Runtime

108 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Jérôme Bonnell’s work delves into the fluidity of human connections and the disruption of conventional norms. The film successfully challenges traditional social contracts by focusing on a protagonist who chooses to break away from her established romantic commitments. Gender hierarchies are effectively challenged through Véra's autonomy and self-interest. The film uses the backdrop of a societal lockdown to allow characters to explore personal truths independently of familial or social expectations. However, the film lacks visible evidence of racial or ethnic diversity within its Parisian setting. While it excels at deconstructing social structures, it provides limited insights into disability or neurodivergent representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does Cheers to Joy have LGBTQ+ representation?

Good

The film centers on a chance meeting between Véra and Sam, which becomes a pivotal moment in their lives. This highlights a departure from traditional heterosexual norms and emphasizes fluid, non-traditional connections.

How does Cheers to Joy portray gender?

Good

Véra takes a significant role in driving the story by lying to her fiancé to pursue her own freedom. Her actions challenge traditional feminine roles and the stereotype of the dependable, responsible partner.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Cheers to Joy?

Fair

The story is set in Paris during the pandemic, but there is little indication of diverse casting. The synopsis does not mention non-white characters in key roles.

How does Cheers to Joy represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative dismantles traditional Western institutions by emphasizing moral relativism over social obligations. It portrays established relationship structures as confining rather than essential to the characters' lives.

Does Cheers to Joy include disability representation?

Fair

The theme of physical vulnerability is introduced through a friend's hospitalization due to COVID-19. However, disability is not a central element in driving character's ability to drive the story or the main narrative focus.

Present on Screen

Strong challenge to traditional gender roles through a highly autonomous female protagonist.
Effective exploration of fluid human connections and non-traditional relationship structures.
Narrative focus on individual ability to act and the rejection of rigid social hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

Lack of clear evidence regarding racial and ethnic diversity within the cast.
Minimal focus on disability or neurodivergence as central elements of character's ability to drive the story.
Limited information regarding the multi-layered identities of the characters.

Official Synopsis

March 2020. Véra makes a quick trip to Paris to feed a friend’s fish and water her plants while she’s hospitalized with a mild case of Covid. France is already abuzz with rumors of the spreading virus. But instead of hopping on a train back to Montpellier, as planned, she impulsively lies to her fiancé and says all trains have been canceled and she’s stuck in Paris… just as everyone else is hightailing it out of the city and the entire country goes into lockdown. So Véra holes up in her friend’s apartment, relieved to have a bit of quiet time to herself. Then she crosses paths with Sam — a chance meeting that changes her life.

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