Stereotypes of class, ethnicity and gender in contemporary French popular comedy: from Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (2008) and Intouchables (2011) to Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au Bon Dieu ? (2014)

Abstract

The deployment, reversal and reiteration of stereotypes constitute one of the major comic devices of the top three French box-office comedy ‘hits’ of recent years: Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (2008), Intouchables (2011), Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au Bon Dieu ? (2014). These comedies follow the same pattern: their contrasting protagonists, in terms of class, regional origin or ethnicity, manage to forget their prejudices and to become ‘friends’ in the classic tradition of a feel-good film. Although age-old, this scheme is rejuvenated by issues of ethnicity, in a contemporary French context characterised by the transformation of French society into a multicultural and multi-ethnic society, by the resistance to that transformation and by the emergence on the big screen of ethnic actors. This article examines how the use of stereotypes, in films that claim to promote alterity and diversity, turns out to be extremely ambiguous. It demonstrates how these narratives, whether they challenge or reiterate prejudiced notions of ethnic and regional identity, leave gender roles and class domination unquestioned. Finally, it casts light on elements that may challenge the reactionary aspects of the plot and characterisation, such as the performance of the actors and the opening up of mainstream French comedy to minorities.