Berlinale – Oppressed Majority stirs up emotions

Like every year, the Berlinale had a few surprises in store this year. Director Éléonore Pourriat certainly touched a nerve with her contribution. In “Majorité opprimée (in German: oppressed majority)” society is turned upside down: women take on the social role of men and men find themselves in the position of women.

An excerpt from a typical day for a French male is shown: Pierre brings his child to daycare, has a short chat with the kindergarten teacher (male, Muslim, of course has to wear a headscarf despite the heat) and then rides his bike to work. On his way to work he passes women jogging (topless of course) and is insulted and hit on by them. The climax ultimately comes with a sexual assault, which is controlled by several women and which lands Pierre in a hospital. When his wife finally picks him up in the evening, after several hours of overtime in the office, she shows little understanding and blames the attack on the fact that he had repeatedly “ride his bike only in flip-flops and shorts”.

Funny, finally a power word, exaggerated, long outdated, a mirror of society? We don't entirely agree on this, so we'll let you decide: