Kein Mann für leichte Stunden

I can see all the unfairness and ridiculousness of being a woman. And it's ugly! It seems natural; but, it had to take a gender role-reverse to see how bad it really is, and how strong women are- going through all the social expectations and s**t. All in a funny way though. I love it. It made me look deep into myself. Great movie!

This film came up on Netflix and I started watching not knowing it was only released today. It deals with the current issues between the genders in a comic but interesting way. Set in Paris (always a good start for a movie) Damien is a single man used to the entilements of a patriarchal society. After being rejected by Alexi a bang to his head takes him into a parallel world where women are the entitlemented gender. Damien finds it differicult to adjust to his new environment. In this world Alexi is a powerful author who sees potential in Damien's story. I enjoyed this movie and it's premise. The characters of the leads are strong in both worlds, but being a strong woman in a man's world is different to being a strong woman in a woman's world.

Damien is a male chauvinist pig of the first order - boorish, inconsiderate, all the trimmings... So it's no great surprise that Alexandra, his author friend's PR assistant has no time for Damien at all. Then after a bang on the head, Damien finds himself in a world where everyone's roles are subtly changed and the women wear the trousers. In this world, Alexandra is the famous author and she picks out Damien whose weird views she thinks might make a useful subject for her next book.

At each turn, the film begs the question, if the tables were turned, would the people respond in this or that way? The gender roles they depict are sometimes a bit extreme and the focus on the one topic is at times a bit relentless, but it does make you think. The tone of the piece is light and though it might be meant as a comedy, it's not laugh-out-loud funny.

The film is dubbed into English (from the original Parisian setting) which is a pity, but it has been done quite well so you soon stop noticing. Vincent Elbaz and particularly Marie-Sophie Ferndale put in strong performances in the lead parts and carry the film despite its weaknesses.

People reviewing this movie poorly have missed the point. There is an ending and it is supposed to shock you into realising that this is the way the world actually is for women and how sad it is that this is reality. I too wondered if they couldn't have made the feminine qualities dominant and masculine submissive but on further reflection, I think the way it was done was just right. By flipping the gender roles so purely it is a great demonstration of how women live in this society. I love, love, love the way Women's bodies are shot by the camera, just structurally without any sexualisation, this was very clever! The film seems silly and fun on the surface but it relays a great message. After watching this film with my (very straight, very white) father he came to the conclusion that maybe he had been underestimating how hard it is for women in our society (a big deal). Please share this film with the men in your life and enjoy the sweet feeling of being understood.

Most of comedy movies are just movies whose plots aim nothing but people's laughs. But "Je ne suis pas un homme facile" is a funny movie, excellent for making you laugh, have fun, chill and to make you "wear the woman's shoes" by making men to play their social roles and "vice versa".