This movie is a problem, let me tell you why.

Rating: 2/10 (19 June 2013)

I'm not saying that every movie has to be a political melting pot or a petri dish for ideological views and discussions, but "The Inouchables" had a great potential. It missed it's promising but most of all IMPORTANT role to be one of those movies. We have Philippe (François Cluzet), the white, older, sophisticated man with this ridiculously large (inherited) wealth, who's hurt from previous bumps in the road of life. Nothing wrong with a rich, wounded, and above all crippled man. We all have our problems. And we have Driss (Omar Sy), the black ghetto man-boy who didn't really want the job as Philippe's assistant in the first place, but just wanted to enjoy himself being out of jail. The stereotypical pot-smoking negro from the slums, without a care for the civilized society, the arts or manners. So the uncivilized black man teaches the sad old man how to live, all with a cheeky smile on his little face. They get high, he almost beats up the neighbor, he laughs at the paintings in the art gallery and how expensive they are, he consistently hits on a woman clearly not interested, and hires some happy, happy prostitutes. Nothing wrong at all. Before you get though the first half of the film, you have been given examples of the three pillars of french culture; prostitution, colonialism and insane wealth. As a movie, it's half decent. Good actors, some cliché but witty lines, and that's about it. The story is flat, the directing is nothing to admire, but the real problem is it's political blindness. The Omar's character is from the beginning a strong contrast to the order and dignity of Philippe's life, but in such a savage way it's borderline racist. I have three major issues I'd like to bring up. "Work? I din't know you had humour" is an example of the negative stereotype this movie projects upon Driss, as a lazy welfare tic. He enjoys weed and hookers, his family is harsh and riddled with kids and bastards, and all the people in the suburb he's from are never seen without a joint. It's simply a bit too racist. But of course, he eventually changes a bit and becomes like, well almost a (white) human being! Problem number two. Never have I seen such contrast in two character's background and wealth, never have I seen such a clash in classes, and never have I seen the issue of class diversity being so vastly ignored as in this movie. Never once is the question of injustice borough up. How can one man have so much money, estate and freedom simply by being born, and how can one man have so little that he, and his obnoxious twelve-or-so-year old brother, turned to criminal activities? To give the story some depth, they tried to arrange a complex scenario where Driss have to save his brother from going wrong, but they handled it clumsily, and without actual dialog. It's like it doesn't even matter that poverty roars around Driss, it's fine and dandy now as he's in his private suite and walks around being tactless in the high society. Here, smoke another joint, make a painting and sell it, but don't use the money it to help your starving family. It's a couple of too many loose ends not being tied to his roots, and the REAL problem; that society and social diversity has formed working class suburbs mostly populated by minimum-wage immigrants. Problem number three is the rotten view on women throughout these 110 insufferable minutes . First of all, it doesn't pass the Bechdel test more than it has two or three named female character. There are many examples to show the complete lack of respect for women, eg how Driss consists of hitting on a woman clearly not interested in him, using disgusting and cheesy pick up lines. Womens looks are very centered, the daughter is portrayed as a spoiled bitch (although her behaviour does not differentiate so much from Driss'), all other women are portrayed only as caretakers, and most deranged of all, the two protagonists use prostitutes excessively. When you watch this movie, have common sense and the right perspective. Don't get fooled by the immoderate hype around this movie, don't get charmed by the fact that it's "based on a true story", in fact you should realize that makes it even more insufferable to watch. I had to fight the urge to stop watching all the way through, fighting the urge to scream at Driss and Philippe that they need to take some academic courses in sociology, social economics, gender studies, colonization history and intersectionalism. Usually, I don't demand such political fairness in the movies I watch, but this here is a perfect example of how the racism, sexism and upper class mentality can survive in the 21st century. We don't need this movie. The Swedish title for this movie can be roughly translated to " An unexpected friendship", and I find it to be a lie. Hugely expected and predictable, this movie blows life to outdated values and dusty clichés o tell a story. Think about it for another round, and make something better while I try to reassemble my now shattered respect for french movies and culture.