Jacky in the Kingdom of Women

It pointedly rides a line from the very start between satirical lampoonery and dubious or possibly offensive mockery, and even targeted, barbed criticism and commentary. In so doing it directs its variable yet piercing gaze toward cultures, religions, governments, relations and dynamics of power between genders, civil and human rights, and more - sometimes with a parallel so obvious it's all but brazen, and at other times with a more nuanced or at least generalized brushstroke that widens the scope to a wider array. At all times, however, and once again from the very start, I can only commend filmmaker Riad Sattouf, for there are countless tiny kernels of ingenuity that are simply delightful as the length advances, keeping the mood relatively light and jocular even as the film broaches real-life issues through thinly-veiled analogies. However closely the fictional country of Bubunne bears resemblance to This Or That in our reality, Sattouf presents us with a religion, a totalitarian regime, a culture, and even a language (or at least a dialect) that is both wholly unique and distinctly recognizable. I'd be lying if I said I entirely knew what to make of 'Jacky au royaume des filles,' or 'Jacky in the kingdom of women,' but this is superbly well done, not to mention smart, and is highly enjoyable all around.

Only rarely is this movie specifically funny, despite the wry cleverness; the serious subject matter is both too twisted as it presents and adjoined by too much relative levity to make an especially significant impression as dramatic material. This is true even as there are elements here of sitcoms, romantic comedies, and pure absurdist romps, and even more uncommonly, political thrillers. Yet there is a measure of earnest heart underneath it all, and the title is consistently amusing. Moreover, what Sattouf gives us is plainly fascinating, and his screenplay is outright brilliant. The dialogue alone is splendidly rich, and the characters as written take discernible notions and archetypes in outrageous new directions. The scene writing is fabulously sharp and engaging with each idea it presents while building the narrative of a fascist matriarchal society, and a young man torn between his modest hopes and aspirations within the world he knows and the cold reality that constantly confronts him. Ironically, there are some aspects of the feature that come close to being genuinely misogynist, reflective of patronizing, patriarchal attitudes, or possibly transphobic or homophobic; however, given the obvious intent, and the unmistakable objects of Sattouf's shrewd jest, the movie is saved from tripping over the edge of the precipice. The filmmaker's deft intelligence is undeniable.

Meanwhile, in all other meaningful capacities 'Jacky au royaume des filles' is fantastically well made. As director Sattouf illustrates a keen eye for shot composition, let alone orchestrating shots and scenes with skill and care to balance the comedic edge, the ruefully true-to-life plot ideas, and the more thriller-oriented facets. His direction, and particularly his eye for arranging shots, is all the more crucial to the title's success as those operating behind the scenes turn in such outstanding work. The production design and art direction are terrific, not to mention the costume design, hair, and makeup. Combine these contributions with Sattouf's vision, and at no few points we're greeted with tremendous sights that recalling the incredible visual aesthetics of works like Tarsem Singh's 'The fall,' or 'The cell,' embracing a certain otherworldly fancy. Or, short of that, the film just altogether looks great. And while I'm not terribly familiar with most of the cast, Charlotte Gainsbourg continues to be a source of joy and pleasure for we viewers wherever she shows up and whatever she does; Vincent Lacoste, leading the cast as the title character, is given a lot to do in his role yet navigates the varied space admirably. And this is hardly to count out anyone else on hand, for from one to the next all the actors do a fine job of helping this to be as gladly entertaining as it is.

If I have any concrete criticism to level it's that in some measure this bites off more than it can chew. Limited mostly to one scene and a few minutes collectively, a touch of science fiction is introduced; I don't mind the obvious sidelong nod to a famous preexisting title, but the very inclusion kind of breaks from what 'Jacky au royaume des filles' has otherwise been building. More concerning is that the last ten minutes or so are emphatically stretched very thin as they try to resolve the plot, provide a denouement and epilogue simultaneously, and worse yet, in the very last moments introduce another story idea that turns a lot of the preceding length on its head and complicates the entirety. I don't think any of these bits are bad ideas in and of themselves, but the movie begins to feel overly long, overfull, and overly busy as it crams in so much so quickly at the end. Had Sattouf applied a smidgen more mindfulness to the screenplay - perhaps shrinking the denouement/epilogue, and introducing the last story idea in a fashion that was more meaningful and less abrupt - then the final result could have only benefited.

Still, that this is as fun as it is, and obliquely provocative and thought-provoking, is a marvelous credit to Sattouf, Gainsbourg and Lacoste, the rest of the cast, and the crew. There's a lot going on here in every way, with so much to dissect and discuss that many more paragraphs could be devoted to exploring every angle. It's not perfect by any means, but I'm pleasantly surprised at just how good it is, for I admit I entered with mixed expectations. Given the themes and ideas on hand, and the more tawdry notions that are precariously approached, let alone content warnings for nudity and (exaggerated) sexual violence, this certainly won't appeal to everyone. Truthfully, I'm going to be turning it over in my head for awhile, too. Nonetheless, I'm happy to say that when all is said and done 'Jacky au royaume des filles' is a wonderful little curiosity that's well worth checking out whether one is a fan of those involved or just looking for something a tad off the beaten track. Watch with an open and ready mind, but do watch if you have the chance!