‘C’est Madame La France que tu préfères?’: The representation of gender inequality in Douce France

Abstract

Douce France is a 1995 banlieue film that touches on issues of interracial friendship, exclusion versus integration, gender identity and the relationship that the second generation of immigrants have with France as their homeland. The work, written and directed by Malik Chibane, focuses on a Blanc-Beur friendship, Moussa (Hakim Sarahoui) and his friend Jean-Luc (Frédéric Diefenthal). The film also focuses heavily on French-Algerian sisters Souad (Seloua Hamse) and Farida (Fadila Belkebla) and the character of Myssad (Nadia Kaci). In this review article, the film is examined and discussed regarding integration into a socio-spatial environment presented as significantly different from other banlieue films. Of particular interest are the difficulties, contradictions and dynamics of social integration, all of which are evident in the evolution of the relationships of the four main characters. These differences are present between them, with their families, but also with the whole social fabric. In addition, this article outlines the historical context of La marche des beurs in 1983 in Marseille and its perception by the public. It then attempts to explore the issues of integration, territory and the relationship between father and children.