A GOOD MAN

France/Belgium, 2020, 107 minutes, Colour.

Noemie Merlant, Soko, Vincent Dedienne, Anne Loiret.

Directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar.

For audiences seeing the film without any pre-knowledge there will be some surprises, even shocks, challenges. The title itself has some ambiguities.

The audience is introduced to Ben, working with a partner, visiting the sick, helping in the hospital. He is young, seen diving and swimming, athletic and energetic. He has been in partnership with his girlfriend, Aude, for six years, moving from the city of Aix to a small island off the coast. An ordinary enough scenario.

In an extended flashback, the audience is introduced to Aude, a dancer, encountering a sullen young woman at the dance, Sarah. Sarah declares she is not lesbian. The two women bond. And then the realisation that Ben is transgender, in the process of transition. This is a tour de force performance from Noemie Merlant, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Tar, sullen and depressed Sarah, for obsessed as Ben.

The key issue of the film is the desire on the part of Ben and Aude to have a family. Aude is unable to have children, there have been several attempts and miscarriages. The decision for Ben, still capable of conception, is to carry and give birth to the child. Visits to gynaecologists, legal issues, a document declaring Ben as male and the mother/parent of the child. And the sadness for Aude, legally she has to adopt the child. At first, she is very happy, a pleasing scene where she shops for toys for the baby. But, discussions with a fellow dancer, feeling sidelined, she leaves.

There are significant scenes throughout the film on the issue of a man and pregnancy, discussions with his brother, alienation from his mother, Ben in hospital after an accident, she visits and there is some kind of communication. Then there is the disbelieving clash with the co-worker who feels betrayed in learning who Ben really is.

There is a birth scene, very moving in its way, and Ben holding the new born child,.

There is an understated ending, a long take of a large group of parents and children playing on a Park hillside and, gradually, Ben and Aude and the baby walking past the camera, leaving audiences to put together the issues and the emotions.

Many favourable reviews of the film but quite strident attack on a transgender site. The screenplay does not explain a lot of detail – relying very much on audience response to the characters, the situations, and testing out their own understandings and emotions.

1. The title? The levels of meaning as regards Ben, his life, career, relationships?
2. The French island setting, the small town, homes, visiting the sick, doctor’s rooms, hospital? The scenes in Aix and the parties? The outdoors, the coast, the beach? The musical score?
3. The transgender theme, not introduced immediately, establishing Ben as a man, at work, with Aude? Audience realisation, adapting to this understanding? The response throughout the film, those appreciating Ben, his close workmate and his feeling that he was lied to, bewildered? Ben’s mother and her memories of Sarah growing up? This film in the light of 21^st-century in 2020s discussions of transitioning, acceptance, political condemnations?
4. Ben, athletic, swimming, visiting the old man and his tender care, the conversations with the woman and her ill husband? This work at the hospital, working with his colleague, the bonds? Ben and his relationship with Aude, six years, the partnership, the love, each with a great desire to have a child?
5. The flashback to the dance, Aude, by herself, a dancer, watching her boyfriend, meeting with Sarah, sullen, reticent, declaring she is not a lesbian, the kiss, the return to the apartment?
6. The return to the present, the audience looking more closely at Ben, male presentation, fitness, beard, moustache, voice…? Starting the transition process, testosterone? His not telling people, the reasons? The consequences?
7. The discussions with his brother, his brother’s family, his brother supporting him? The discussions about his mother, scenes between them?
8. The episode of the attack on Aude, her running, the fight, the accident, Ben in hospital, his mother’s visit, her paying the bills? Her explaining the difficult relationship as Sarah grew up, not responding to her mother, no breastfeeding, alone? Her mother’s bewilderment, wanting her daughter to confide in?
9. The decision about the baby, Ben still having the uterus and ability to conceive? The visits to the doctors, the process? The beginning of the pregnancy, development? The issue of the legality, the reception of the document from the judge, his male identity, yet his being able to be listed as mother of the child? The effect on Aude, the legal requirement for her to adopt the baby?
10. The talk with his coworker, more than surprised, the reaction, feeling lied to, hurt, leaving? But his later relenting, helping in transporting them to the hospital?
11. The effect on Aude the scene of buying the baby clothes and sharing with the shop assistant? Sometimes edge with Ben? Her beginning to feel sidelined? The discussion with the dancer, her past, the possibilities, her deciding to go away?
12. Ben, alone, the development of the pregnancy, walking? The doctor’s advice, a connection with a midwife? Hospital, the birth sequences, the baby emerging, holding the baby, his mother’s presence, cutting the cord? Ben and his happiness?
13. The final sequence, the long glimpse of the group of children playing, the joy, families, and Ben and Aude finally emerging with the baby, walking past the camera, leaving it to the audience to appreciate?