In the middle of the election campaign for his re-election, the very conservative mayor of a small town in the north of France learns that his wife, to whom he has been married for 40 years, has always felt like a man and that she is beginning a transition from gender.
More than 10 years later Laurence Anywaysthe filmmaker Tristan Séguéla, known in particular thanks to Doctor?, also explores the theme of transidentity by drawing inspiration from the story of a person close to him who began a gender transition when he was over 50 years old. But unlike Xavier Dolan, who bet on the dramatic effect that such a situation can have on a couple, the French filmmaker rather saw material in this to make a comedy of it intended first of all to make the spectator laugh, but also to make him think about the question.
Even if the whole does not always avoid didacticism and the last act is much too idealized to be credible, the fact remains that the bet is well taken. Dealing with such a delicate subject in a popular comedy is, without a doubt, an extremely perilous exercise, for which Tristan Séguéla has taken a very respectful approach. And really funny.
He also had the flair to bring together on screen – for the first time – two sizes that complement each other wonderfully. Catherine Frot and Fabrice Luchini are among those exceptional actors who can, with their mere presence, elevate a scene beyond caricature and make their characters authentic and touching.
In the role of this woman who was waiting for the end of the political career at the town hall of her husband, whom she sincerely loves, to finally reveal her true nature and begin her gender transition, Catherine Frot is of course formidable. Fabrice Luchini, whose character goes from ultraconservatism (his electoral slogan is “Forward as before!”) to acceptance, also finds one of his most beautiful roles, especially since the situations are so strong that he never needs to force the note. We should also mention the presence of Philippe Katerine, priceless in the role of the mayor’s political assistant.
We will not speak here of a masterpiece of finesse, but A happy mancarried by its two stars, has the merit of tackling a more niche subject in an accessible and entertaining way.
Indoors
Comedy
A happy man
Tristan Seguela
With Catherine Frot, Fabrice Luchini, Philippe Katerine
1:29 a.m.