New Showbiz

You are here:
The Companions

The Companions

2022

Director

François Favrat

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

At 19, passionate about street art, Naëlle (Najaa Bensaid) is forced to follow a reintegration project with other young people, her last chance to avoid being separated from her loved ones. Touched by the young girl, Hélène (Agnès Jaoui), the site manager and her instructor, introduces her one day to the Maison des Compagnons de Nantes, a world of traditions that promotes craftsmanship excellence and transmission between generations. Alongside Paul (Pio Marmai), a companion stained glass artist who agrees to take her for training in his studio, Naëlle discovers a universe with codes very different from hers that could give new meaning despite her difficulties in life. Naëlle will carve a place for herself in the fascinating world of stained glass and will realize that the Companions' values are not just empty words.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.2/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit depictions of non-heteronormative identities. The narrative focus remains strictly on professional mentorship and the protagonist's personal evolution.

Gender Representation

Good

Naëlle challenges traditional hierarchies by driving the plot within a male-dominated artisanal craft. Her journey emphasizes technical agency over submissive archetypes.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

Casting Najaa Bensaid provides meaningful representation. The story explores how diverse identities navigate and find growth within established, traditional French cultural frameworks.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film examines the tension between urban street culture and traditional craftsmanship. It views institutional values as a source of meaning rather than blind patriotism.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no mention of characters navigating physical, neurodivergent, or mental health disabilities within the narrative.

Strengths

  • Strong representation of racial diversity through the lead role.
  • Challenges gender stereotypes by centering a woman in a male-dominated craft.
  • Avoids 'victimhood' tropes by focusing on the protagonist's technical agency.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
  • Provides no engagement with disability or neurodivergent perspectives.
  • Limited exploration of diverse cultural identities beyond the central protagonist.

AI Analysis

The film succeeds in bridging the gap between contemporary urban subcultures and historical institutional traditions. By centering on Naëlle’s mastery of stained glass, it avoids common tropes of victimhood in social reintegration stories. While the film offers strong representation regarding race and gendered agency, it lacks depth in LGBTQ+ and disability categories. The narrative is primarily a study of social mobility and professional reclamation. Ultimately, the work provides a nuanced look at how modern identities intersect with rigid, excellence-driven systems of craftsmanship.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Into the World

Into the World

2020

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 6.1 out of 10

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.