Noémie Merlant, a "Good Man" without the stereotypes of the (trans) gender

• Since his partner cannot have children, a transgender man decides to be the one to carry their baby.

• Noémie Merlant delivers a nuanced and respectful performance in “A Good Man” by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar.

• She avoids stereotypes in the role of a man born in a woman's body.

We left Noémie Merlant in

by Jacques Audiard released last Wednesday.

We find her this week in

by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar which tackles the oh so delicate theme of transparency.

The actress plays Benjamin, a man born in a woman's body who wants to start a family with his partner Aude (played by Soko).

They are considering assisted reproduction, but the latter cannot have children.

Benjamin then decides to carry their baby.

"Marie-Castille has a gift for showing social issues in a different light, so that the public can better understand them", explains Noémie Merlant to

.

Having already been directed by the filmmaker for

(2012),

(2016) and

(2017), she knew she could trust her to tackle such a delicate subject.

Respect above all else

A Good Man

, a film awarded the Cannes 2020 label and shown in Deauville, has received the support of the Representrans collective. “I was aware that I could be criticized for appropriating the role of a trans man,” explains Noémie Merlant. But Marie-Castille having tried in vain to find one to play Benjamin, I ended up believing that the visibility that the film offered to transgender people outweighed my scruples. The actress has undoubtedly made the right decision, so much she moves without ever being caricatured in her united couple which will not fail to give a lot of love to her offspring.

“To play Benjamin, I had to avoid the clichés that we associate with virility, insists Noémie Merlant.

I had to learn to modify my voice with a speech therapist, work on my gait, my bodybuilding and my body language to build it.

Transgender counselors came to support the actress who wanted above all not to deliver a stereotypical composition.

“Respect was the watchword of the film for all those who participated,” she insists.

This is felt in each delicate sequence of this work which touches the universal in its way of approaching the desire to be a parent.

The story is loosely based on that of a relationship between the director, as well as trans men who have borne children, especially in the United States.

An important message

“One day, couples like the one formed by Benjamin and Aude will be considered perfectly ordinary,” insists Noémie Merlant.

This is what the film is all about: that the pain transgender people experience is a thing of the past and that people who don't know them understand it better.

”If only for that,

is an important work in what it reveals of distress but also of love and strength.

Movie theater

"The Olympics": Jacques Audiard explores the bodies and hearts of young Parisians

Movie theater

Cannes Film Festival: Jacques Audiard, Mathieu Amalric and Noémie Merlant echoing on the Croisette

• Deauville American Film Festival

• Transgender

• Cannes film festival

• Cinema outings

• Movie theater

• 0 comment

• 0 share

  • Share on Messenger

  • Share on Facebook

  • Share on twitter

  • Share on Flipboard

  • Share on Pinterest

  • Share on Linkedin

  • Send by Mail

• To safeguard

• A fault ?

• To print