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Va Savoir (Who Knows?)

Name: Va Savoir (Who Knows?)
Director: Jacques Rivette
Released: 2001
Duration: 154 min

Representation Score

7.3/10

Good

2001

PG-13

Director

Jacques Rivette

Runtime

154 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Jacques Rivette’s *Va Savoir* succeeds in subverting traditional social hierarchies, particularly regarding gender and sexual fluidity. By placing women in positions of intellectual ability to act and presenting interpersonal connections as non-prescriptive, the film avoids many conventional clichés. However, the film’s scope is limited by its narrow focus on a specific Parisian artistic class. This results in a lack of racial, ethnic, and disability representation, making the social world feel somewhat insulated and homogeneous. Ultimately, the film is a study of postmodern subjectivity. It trades institutional or diverse representation for a nuanced exploration of personal truth and shifting power dynamics within a specialized social strata.

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Category Breakdown

Does Va Savoir (Who Knows?) have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film portrays a social environment where attraction and identity are fluid rather than strictly heterosexual. Although there isn't a central LGBTQ+ character, the film avoids using negative language and rigid sexual hierarchies.

How does Va Savoir (Who Knows?) portray gender?

Good

Female characters such as Camille play significant roles in the intellectual and artistic spheres. The film explores female desire and professional identity, challenging traditional patriarchal structures and male dominance.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Va Savoir (Who Knows?)?

Limited

The cast is predominantly white, reflecting a specific Parisian intellectual community. While it avoids harmful stereotypes, the narrative lacks significant racial or ethnic diversity beyond this particular socioeconomic group.

How does Va Savoir (Who Knows?) represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative emphasizes subjective experiences and secular, artistic pursuits over organized religion or patriotism. It questions absolute truths by focusing on the subjectivity of memory and performance.

Does Va Savoir (Who Knows?) include disability representation?

Fair

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the film. It does not use disability as a plot device, but it lacks representation for neurodivergent or physically disabled individuals.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender hierarchies by giving female characters significant intellectual and professional ability to act.
Presents a fluid approach to identity and attraction within its artistic social circles.
Rejects rigid moral and religious hierarchies in favor of postmodern subjectivity and personal truth.

Limited or Absent

Lacks racial and ethnic diversity, remaining concentrated within a homogeneous Parisian milieu.
Fails to provide representation or ability to act for neurodivergent or physically disabled individuals.
The narrative scope is limited to a specific socioeconomic and cultural enclave.

Official Synopsis

After finding love and success in Italy, French actress Camille returns to Paris, the city she fled three years ago. She secretly dreads confronting her ex-boyfriend Pierre. Her new lover Ugo also has a secret, as he’s meeting with the intriguing Dominique while on his quest for an unpublished manuscript.

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