The French film Intouchables is a hit in France. White and Black French alike, love the film. Even in (Francophone) Africa it is a great succes, wrote Sibo in his review. But the American film magazine Variety called it "The kind of Uncle Tom racism one hopes has permanently exited American screens." It's clear that French people love it and Americans probably will hate it?
The Weinstein Company is planning to release it in the USA next month, May 25. But Variety warned, "the Weinstein Co., which has bought remake rights, will need to commission a massive rewrite to make palatable this cringe-worthy comedy about a rich, white quadriplegic hiring a black man from the projects to be his caretaker, exposing him to 'culture', while learning to loosen up. Sadly, this claptrap will do boffo Euro biz."
In an interview with Anthem Magazine Omar Sy addresses the US critiques of Intouchables.
ANTHEM MAG - The Los Angeles Times has said that the film has some ‘crying racism.’ Variety proclaimed that your role as Driss is ‘a role barely removed from the jolly house slave of yore.’ I don’t personally share these views, but I would love to get your thoughts on what certain American critics are saying.
OMAR SY - I didn’t see any racist elements. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done this movie. I would need to see what those critics are talking about, specifically. I did read a few things here and there, but I want to make it clear that, in France, things are very different than the U.S. on a social level. The two societies have not evolved in the same way. In France, when you look at the poor and the privileged in the city suburbs, all immigrant communities live together and share the same environment. You’ll find people from places like Northern Africa and Portugal living together. In the U.S., it’s not like that. I would need more information on what these critics are saying, but we should look at all the details. Then we could explain the reasons behind it. It would take a long time and we would need a whole new movie about that.
Sibo, who is Francophone, wrote in his review. "It is true that the film is full of clichés and racial stereotypes. As the film is rather kind than harsh it seems from this perspective that the film is a French version of Uncle Tom's Cabin. But I don't think that's what the film is about. Race is used to accentuate differences but race is not the subject of the film. 'Untouchables' is about lonely human beings with very different backgrounds finding friendship and love. However, Variety sees race as the center element of the film."
And also a French speaking couple who commented on the posting loved the film.
I must admit that when I saw the trailer I immediately saw the racial stereotypes, the cultivated white person versus the uneducated black man from the streets. But maybe a lot of French people also saw the stereotypes, but didn't label them as racist.
Racist movie.
ReplyDeleteAnd Omar Sy is married with a white woman...
Sanza, I agree that it does feel a little bit racist.
DeleteNow THAT is going to be interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, I am waiting for the review. :)
DeleteHello Kelly !
ReplyDeleteI'm Valentine and I'm in charge of communication for the company African Pulse specialized in Modern African Fashion.
As we are very interested in your blog, we would like to cooperate. If you agree with us, would you be so kind to send me your contact details for giving you further informations, thank you.
I’m looking forward to your answer.
Sincerely yours
Valentine
Communications Manager
www.africanpulse.eu
Hello Valentine,
ReplyDeleteI don't want to reply for Kelly, but since you used the word 'blog'. Kelly Virella is the founder of the website Dominion of New York, our content partner. When I said I am wating for the review, I was refering to a review on Dominion of New York.
Sorry it's my fault if I mistook you and Kelly! But yes, I would like to discuss with you Afro-Europe because I saw that you wish to promote fashion. Thank you
DeleteValentine
They made sure they selected an African that looks like an ape with huge, flaring nostrils.
ReplyDeleteThese are stereotypes. And this clown has no idea how he's being used.
The Africans in America don't do this stuff! Ever!
I hope this isn't representative of Africans in France, because if it it, I can understand why former President Chirac of France said that Africans "smell" and no one got mad at him.
Can't help but shake my head at this.
To suggest this is to berate the actor of his look. You need a lesson in simple expression. And do not assume to know Africans. We socialize quite differently and don't give in to the nuisances that you do. This is a realistic depiction of many caregivers here in the U.S. Young and old African-American women serving as nurse's aids to wealthy white folks. Get over yourself and take a reality pill.
DeleteThis movie "Intouchable" is not racist. I am an African American women who enjoyed this film's heart felt HUMAN quality. Racist? No, I laughed and cried, BRAVO!
Deletei'm surprised that the comments here seem to miss entirely what is at stake in this movie which is first a comedy (have you heard about Will Smith ? don't try to sell me US movies are not using stereotypes).
ReplyDeleteOmar Sy is not an "ape" : what a disgusting comment from a KKK redneck. He is a brilliant actor who is precisely showing the rise of Afro Europeans in the media and entertaining industries. It's is 100% false to say Chirac's statement on not "Africans" but immigrants was accepted : on the contrary !
It made such a polemic there is a whole Wkiki notice ont that : http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_bruit_et_l'odeur_(discours_de_Jacques_Chirac)
Moreover the scenario is based on a real story uniting a rich white paraplegic and a Moroccan helper. It is very interesting that the Maghrebin has been changed into a Black African. The movie is giving glimpses of the banlieue life and the contrast between the crammed project apartment, the "mum" working as cleaning lady in office building etc.
The Black character has been in jail shortly. It reflects Omar Sy's own youth, his mother was a maid too.
So I feel it's rather a way to fight stereotypes through a popular comedy, to fight racism, to promote a new look on the people of the "banlieues" and above all having a French Afro European actor has main character of a movie which is now the record of in French box office classification.
Intouchables is in fact an incredible tribute in itself on this growing role of Afro Europeans. Besides Omar Sy is the first Black comedian to get the n°1 César award.
You can have a look too on Thomas N'Gijol who is born in a middle class Afro French family and is also more and more popular as a comedian.
a white guy
"The best slave is a slave that doesn't know he is a slave."
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI`m a black french and I lived in France for 15 years. I didn`t see the movie. But according what I saw from the trailer, all the french cliches are there.
The young afro from the subub working for a white wealthy boss. For me the question is not whether this film is racist or not.
The question you have to ask yourself is why this black actor still accept this type of role?
And I think this is the main question. Omar Sy has been been for a very longtime on the french tv. He doesn`t need this job to survive.
You have to know that black french in France will use every possible cliche to be liked by the white french.
You have to live in France on a daily basis to see how they operate. If they can spite at your face front of white french to be accepted they will do it.
You have to know that for the past decade Omar Sy has not been an exception. He used every possible way to be accepted.
Making people laugh endlessly, avoiding to be critical on anything, of course he didn`t choose a black women as wife, etc...
You have to know that black french despite the image they want to give people who are not living in France are acting as slave in the french society.
You cannot see it because they are hidding their game, when they are with black people. But if you go in private circles who are mostly white, you will see their true face.
I saw those people spit on their african or caribbean heritage to make white french who obviously love this type of guy laugh.
Be very careful regarding black french. What you see is not what you get.
You want to talk to me about that?
tibwaa (at) yahoo.com
See you soon
Well, if the only thing that is important to you is the colour of your skin, I feel sorry for you. I don't know the African or Caribbean people you're dealing with, but the ones I know are themselves and never try to fit in by becoming what they are not.
ReplyDeleteThe directors asked Omar about the suburbs where he grew up and made the movie with him so if the movie is full of clichés maybe it's because some part of it is true.
Could people who never saw the movie refrain themselves from commenting on it?
The message of it is not about the colour of the skin ,for me it could have worked whatever the characters looked like!
Just give it a chance and enjoy it because it really is a feel good movie!!
It's SO FUNNY seeing WHITE AMERICANS telling this clown that what he's doing is racist and that he shouldn't be doing it.
ReplyDeleteWHITE AMERICANS!!!
How are they telling you to be offended?
No self respect at all.
Having not seen this film, I don't have any opinion on whether the Black character is an Uncle Tom or not. I do think it's interesting that the nationality of the African man was changed to a darker skinned African than the real life man who the movie was based upon. I wonder why that was done.
ReplyDeleteI'm also writing to let you know about this post:
http://www.racialicious.com/2012/05/17/think-like-a-man-just-not-in-france/ "Think Like a Man Just Not In France".
That post provides information about the reluctance of movie industry in France to support movies about Black romantic couples, and the outright banning of Black American films such as Tyler Perry's movies (including "Think Like A Man"). The post includes some comments about Omar Sy.
I thought readers here might be want to know about this post, if they aren't already aware of it.
Also, I added a hyperlink to this blog on that post's comment thread.
Ms. Powell,
DeleteI answered this question. They have a view of an African and it looks like this clown, Omar Sy, with his huge nostrils and dark skin. They wouldn't pick an Ethiopian to play the part.
OMG! Nothing better than a black person with the most "eurocentric" standard of beauty look for house niggers like truth2011. For him it is the lighter, the better.
DeleteI can't believe a proud Black person depicts a beautiful original black man in such a disgusting way - you used the word APE. What does his - by the way handsome - physical appearance has to do with his Uncle Tom character? yes most Black have wider nose and nostrils than whites. Most Black around the world are dark skinned. And they are beautiful that way. Would you call Jay-Z or Wesley Snipe an ape?
By the way you should learn more about the diversity of beauty in Ethiopia; that's a big countries with different types of faces.
It is amazing how some Blacks, especially those with mixed ancestry, have such a low self-estim for their own race.
Actually, people like thruth2011 are more dangerous for Blacks than Whites are. He's the kind of person who will talk shit about black folks while having beer with his white friends, feeling like he's more respected than the rest of Blacks, especially Africans.
Whites in America are as racist as in Europe. They just express it in different ways due to history.
In Usa, they kill and put in jail so many black men every year. Black is the poorest community. And some White even go telling Blacks to go back to Africa if they are not happy with their living.
And then you have pathetic people like Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson who is Black and say crazy things like Black were lucky to get to usa through slavery or that they should go back to plantations.
And with all that, thruth2011 takes America as example.
Mental slavery syndrom
@truth2011, I'm sorry, but your views are so disgusting on so many levels. First, your reference to Omar Sy as being an "ape": wow. I was watching the film with my black Brazilian friends and two Latina women, and all we could do was go on and on about how unbelievably handsome he is. How dare you liken a beauty like that to something apelike. As a woman of Ethiopian descent, I think you need to watch what you say about how you think all of us look. Those of us in the north do have distinct features from those in the western part of the continent, but not our brothers in the South. Google the term "Gambella" if you'd like to learn something new today. You want to come on this blog and launch a tirade about slave mentality and stereotypical mindset, and here you are with this drivel. Pathetic. I guess it takes one to know one, right?
DeleteAs for the film, I saw it last night and loved the fact that these stereotypes were taken head-on. Instead of side-stepping them, they took everything and depicted it, in my opinion, as it would be in a realistic setting. Those of us in the U.S. are so used to watering everything down to appease our sensitivities that we've forgotten how to be receptive to real life on film. Are many of the scenarios a bit far-fetched? Perhaps, but it is still a film. Sure, it's not the most flattering representation of the way black people live in Paris, but you're not going to tell me that it doesn't reflect a reality that many people are living over there. You guys can just come off of that high horse right now, if that's the case. Was he being depicted as a drug dealer? Did he have children out of wedlock? Was he allowing himself to be influenced into doing the same crap that landed him in jail in the first place by staying in the same environment? I'd have to say no, but all of the above are true for films in the U.S. written and directed by Black men that chose young men from the projects as their protagonists. Anyone who didn't live in a cave through the 90's knows that this is a fact. I'm sorry, why are we pointing fingers at this film again from across the pond when we championed all of John Singleton's films, many of which followed this formula? Give me a break.
No. I've seen it long enough. I've seen what directors do: when they want a minority to play a role, they go for the most stereotypical, extreme looking person. Why didn't they select a metisse? Or a Somalian or Ethiopian?
DeleteThey choose the one with the biggest facial features when confirms their stereotypes. This guy looks like a golliwog. And that's exactly the way they want it.
This fool, however, is too stupid to see it. WHITE AMERICANS are telling him he's out of line. How can a WHITE AMERICAN know that these roles are offensive and an AFRICAN can't?
What exactly, pray tell, is a damn golliwog? You are so beyond ignorant. This man is beyond handsome. You also have a very narrow-minded idea of what Somalis and Ethiopians look like. You have no idea of how many people of Bantu descent live in both countries and are very similar in appearance to Omar Sy. Tell me what else you think you know about Ethiopian and/or Somali culture. Judging from your comments, not much. In Ethiopia, we have beauty queens that look like Liya Kebede, but also those who look like Alek Wek. What exactly is supposed to be offensive about this film? That he was concerned about his family? That he decided to pursue honest employment instead of collecting a welfare check? That he was a clever guy with street smarts and a great sense of humor? Enlighten me. I'd like to know what made this movie so much worse than "The Help." Sounds like you never saw the film and are jumping to unfounded conclusions.
DeleteYou're the one that is beyond ignorant. I have not commented on his attractiveness. I commented on how producers always cast stereotypes of minorities. This clown is a modern day Buckwheat.
Delete"The Help" is fiction but is based in a fact that black Americans were nannies. I haven't see the movie so I can comment any further.
Anonymous... I'm not Eurocentric. I'm telling you the truth.
ReplyDeleteThis clown has NO idea that he's been used to do stereotypes of Africans. Again, WHITE AMERICANS are telling him that these movies are RACIST! And he doesn't them anyways.
Thechicagovegetarian: You have to be kidding me! We don't have racist movies and you call that "water down" to appease our sensitivities?
ReplyDeleteYou're Ethiopian. You aren't a black American. Don't tell me about "sensitivities" when your ancestors were in Africa when slavery was happening.
You can take you and your "sensitivities" back to Africa as calling racism "sensitivities" is insulting to black Americans.
There you go assuming again. My mother is Black American. I was born and raised here, in a Black neighborhood. My paternal grandparents were the immigrants, not my father. My professional life is dedicated to teaching children about different cultures of the African Diaspora through the art of dance in Black and Latino schools throughout the city of Chicago. Now, what was that you wanted to say again about me going back to Africa? Where were my ancestors again? Nothing you're saying even remotely makes sense, and you still haven't explained what in the hell a golliwog is supposed to be.
DeleteThat foolish stupid thruth2011 should be banned from this blog!
DeletePut it in Google. It's the truth. Tell me what's the difference between Buckwheat in the early 1900's and this clown IN 2012?
DeleteHe's still doing this Buckwheat routine in 2012. Please look up Buckwheat and tell me what's the difference between him and Buckwheat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Thomas
thruth2011, where do your ancestors come from? Don't they come from Africa?
ReplyDeleteYes they do come from Africa.
DeleteIt's so pathetic that America had a history of portraying blacks with super dark skin, big facial features and red lips. But we got over it and that kind of stuff isn't allowed.
But an African is doing his hardest to tap dance for the French audience and do a stereotype.
I'll ask again: How is it that WHITE AMERICANS are telling him that this role is racist and he's still doing it?
Super dark skin is great.
DeleteHe has no big features or red lips. He has black features period. Shame on you.
Jay-Z & Kanye West calling themselves Niggas and spreading it to their white audience = true cooning
Deletehttp://www.yourblackbloggers.net/2012/06/uncategorized/dr-boyce-russell-simmons-defends-gwyneths-use-of-the-n-word-dont-do-it-man/
Right... and he has all of the exaggerated, stereotypical racial features of Buckwheat.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jay-Z and Kanye West don't represent black Americans. They're selling out big time.
Officially, white americans consider the word nigga racist.But lot of black use that word even thought whites call it racist. Now where are the clowns
DeleteYou said it right. The black Americans that use the N word are indeed clowns. I don't use it. And, Sanza, you can't use it either.
DeleteI wonder how ugly you are
ReplyDeleteIt has nothing to do with attractiveness. The French directors hired him because he's dark, has huge lips and a huge nose. They'd never hire me for that role and if they did, I'd turn it down.
DeleteThis guy is Buckwheat 2012.
I believe that it's unfortunate that comments on this thread got sidetracked to an attack on Omar Sy's physical appearance. For the record, I think he's quite attractive.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it would have been more productive to talk about why some critics and viewers consider the film to be racially stereotypical.
As a person who hasn't seen the film, I believe this excerpt from a critic's review is pertinent:
"In fact, [Omar Sy's character] Driss is treated as nothing but a performing monkey (with all the racist associations of such a term), teaching the stuck-up white folk how to get "down" by replacing Vivaldi with "Boogie Wonderland" and showing off his moves on the dance floor. It's painful to see Sy, a joyfully charismatic performer, in a role barely removed from the jolly house slave of yore, entertaining the master while embodying all the usual stereotypes about class and race.
The nadir comes when Driss dons a suit and Magalie tells him he looks like President Obama, as if the only black man in a suit could be the president; what's so distressing is that the writers mean for the line to be tender and funny. (For the record, Sy and Obama look nothing alike.)"
Azizi Powell: the review you just posted said EVERYTHING that I have been saying. I said Sy was "tap dancing for French people" and the link you posted say he was just a "performing monkey."
DeleteWhere's the fake outrage from Sanza and the Ethiopian?
I know what I'm talking about.
Personally, because of its racist history, I would NEVER have used the term "performing monkey" to describe a Black person. Because of that same racist history, I don't think that any Black person or any other Person of Color to call a Black person a monkey, ape, or gorilla. I also believe that it's particular bad form for a White person to refer to a Black person using those terms.
DeleteAlso because of their racist history, I would NEVER call a Black person "Buckwheat", or a golliwog.
While I'm reluctant to negatively label people, I admit that, after what I considered sufficient public evidence, I have referred to a few Black males as "Uncle Toms" and a few Black females as "Aunt Jemima". Most of these people were (or are) politicians. I chose not to name names.
I'm unfamiliar with Omar Sy's theatrical work and personal life. For that reason, I would not label him personally an Uncle Tom.
I'm MUCH more interested in examining what there is about the "Untouchables" film that cause some critics and some viewers to label the character that Sy plays as an Uncle Tom. I'm also much more interested in information about the history and current state of the French movie industry with regard to the roles that Black people and other People of Color have performed, and the roles that any Black people and other People of Color have had as producers, directors, screen writers etc.
I'm not French, and I'm not Afro-European. My interest is as an African American who recognizes the essential unity of all Black people throughout the world, and as a human being who recognizes the essential unity of all people.
Correction:
DeleteI don't think that any Black person or any other Person of Color should call a Black person a monkey, ape, or gorilla.
Ms Azizi Powell, thank you.
DeleteSo far thruth2011 was trying to make Afro-europeans think that monkey was black american vernacular with no racist connotation.
Good to read people like you and thechicagovegetarian.
thruth is a liar and an ignorant.
That quote is from http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117946269?refcatid=31 Posted: Thu., Sep. 29, 2011, 8:57pm PT
ReplyDeleteSan Sebastian
Untouchable
Intouchables
(France)
By Jay Weissberg
Azizi Powell: how would you feel if some European put a black American in a stereotypical /stock role as a help that looked just like Aunt Jemima?
ReplyDeleteHow would you feel if this character looked like a bad stereotype of black Americans? And talked like she never cracked open a book?
Wouldn't you not criticize the European and the actress playing this racist role? I hope you would.
Truth2011, first off, there are black people who have seen the film and loved it. In that case I would ask myself how it’s possible that they don't find the film racist. Secondly, the fact that white Americans critics find the film racist has perhaps something to do with fact that the US has a history when it comes to putting black people in stereotypical racist roles. So if I was a white American who had to review this film I would think twice to look at this film from another perspective.
DeleteAnd about the word "ape". I deleted a previous comment where the the word was used. the only reason why I didn't delete this comment is because I wanted others to respond it. The next time, the comment will be deleted.
And on a personal note, I think I have to see the film. Maybe I’ll find out why this film is not as racist as it looks in the trailer.
So, I guess, because France doesn't have a history with racism (news to me), they can put an African in this stereotypical role?
DeleteWhy did they make the character darker for the movie?
When I said ape, I was talking about his facial features. Would it be racist if a director casted a Jewish actor who had a hook nose? It would be tasteless. Why must do they always pick the darkest African with the most exaggerated facial features?
This is what white Americans did with Buckwheat and Aunt Jemima? And about 5% of black Americans look like them but they used to only have super dark actors and actresses play these roles.
Afro-Europe: Could you please delete the comments were Sanza is using the N word. She is not a black American and her using that word is inappropriate.
DeleteDarkest African with exaggerated facial features? Truth, please stop. I've never seen a white, a black or an Asian person with “exaggerated” facial features. They just a have typical white, black or Asian facial features.
DeleteAnd do yourself a favour, go see the film.
Judging from Americans who have seen it, I don't think I have any interest to see it.
DeleteA WHITE AMERICAN found one of the jokes offensive which says all you need to know about Sy selling his soul. One joke in the film had the guy in the wheelchair say that Sy looks like Obama when he's in a suit!
Black Americans, please tell Afro-Europe that there's a stereotype all blacks look alike. I don't see anything funny about. Obama is a mixed-race black American and Sy is African. They're completely different, but not to the French writers can't tell the difference between someone dark and light skinned.
These jokes aren't even cloaked in racism. They're obvious.
It's clear that black people from France and the US have a different opinion about the film. And it's also clear that comments which describe black people as "apes" will be deleted.
ReplyDeleteI didn't call black people "apes."
DeleteWill the N word be deleted too? Sanza, isn't a black American and she's using that word.
Truth2011, let’s not start this cliché discussion. You should know the jokes I’ve heard from white Dutch people about African-American rappers who call themselves Nig***.
DeleteRainmain
ReplyDeleteBlack American living in France for the past 30 years and presently in a small village of 140+ inhabitants in the southwest of France (Peyrelongue Abos). Sterotypes abound but the one that struck me the most in the film was why was he shown stealing that egg? For once in my life, that sterotype of a Black American has a positive effect when I am more than often stopped by the police (Gendarme)? But why am I stopped in the first place even when dressed in my 3 piece pin stripped suit, white shirt and tie? Here it is called "délit de sale gueule", as the Police officer proudly explained to me and in the USA "profiling". The assumption once again I have stolen something i.e. the car I am driving! As for the positive effect? Once they see my papers and discover that I am an American, that stern official facial expression dissolves into a pleasant surprise smile and they begin to tell me about their vacation in Miami or Las Vegas and/or about their children's studies in some US university. Which I explain in far more detail and laced with my humor in my hopefully soon to be published book. Words of a Demented Wiseman: Equality is.....no longer being afraid of those who are paid to protect you......said the Rainman
Hi Rainmain, thanks for the comment. But how is it possible that this film is so popular with black French people (in France and Africa)? By the way, I haven't seen the film, just the trailer.
ReplyDeleteWho told you that movie was popular through Blacks in France and Africa?
DeleteI 'm curious.
Blogger Sibo, I quoted him in this post.
DeleteBecause he had a primary role nothing to with the character portrayed!
ReplyDeleteIt has only been as recent as 2012 that I have seen Blacks in French advertisements and now a primary role? Black French elation and of course the white jubilation in its box office success.
ReplyDeleteTruth2011: I just don't understand why you keep saying that if a white american saw racism in this, then it surely must be there.
ReplyDeleteAre white americans the ultimate judges in what is racist and what is not? Have american experiences (black and white) more value than all the others in the world?
Your comments are very much ethnocentric.
No, I'm saying a white American because you'd think a white person would be the LAST person to know what it's like to be a minority.
DeleteWhite Americans know these roles and jokes in the movie are racist.
Why doesn't the African?
That's my point.
Because he is as silly as the African-Americans who use the N word in their songs. And you're as ignorant as the Reverand Jesse Lee Peterson.
DeleteThis movie is racist as much as french society
ReplyDelete, they still have a long way to go regarding the US (even though th US is not perfect)
The truth,What an ignorant BITCH.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article and as myself being a Black woman in the dirty USA which I do have French/French-Canadian/French Creole descent and more stuff in my DNA, I wouldn't even dare look at this movie. I mean,... who... and who would laugh at one of the most darkest era in history of slavery? It's sick!
ReplyDeleteI just watched this movie, and for the record, I'm a Chinese-Canadian woman, so the way I experience the world is vastly different than the way a Black (North) American would. I will give it a go, in terms of listing things this movie did or did not pull off.
ReplyDeleteFrom hearing the premise, I was terrified of Driss turning into a "Magical Negro," and some moments (like him dancing to Earth Wind and Fire was a bit much,) did veer into that territory.
That being said, the movie shows two people from two very different worlds meeting each other, and both helping each other out, from my interpretation. Driss's race is not mentioned (except for him looking like Barack Obama, which made my eyes roll,) and any mention of his being an ex-con was due to someone finding some weapons in his gym bag, after initially moving here from the banlieues. It was more a contrast in class experience, and personalities, I found.
However, the movie was very VERY much about Driss. We learned the most about him: his living at his aunt's with a multitude of siblings, his struggles in finding a job, his backstory of being from Senegal, his protectiveness and lovefor his siblings and his newfound interest in art were all there. The white protagonist however, was sort of two-dimensional, you know he was once married, has an adopted daughter, was in a paragliding accident.
Their interactions were never servant/master, and definitely developed into a very close friendship. His personality was rather brash and without filter, bordering on stereotypical, but his character was pretty well developed. And hell, I'm someone without much filter, and sound pretty crass myself.
Also, I don't know about other people, but I found him gorgeous and don't know what's with all the clownish, stereotypical features comments about him.
As previously mentioned, I don't experience the world in the same way, but I found this movie to be sweet,and not horrendously offensive, nor very covertly racist.
I found a lot of stuff hokey in the traditional French comedy way, but pretty evenly done, so there's a lot of eye-roll moments, but not scenes where my jaw dropped from the abject racism, just minimal instances of side-eye.
Delete