Unlearning Toxic Masculinity in the Dardennes' La Promesse
Overview of La Promesse
- 1996 film by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne
- Explores the unlearning of patriarchal values by a teenage boy, Igor, through his relationship with an undocumented Burkinabé immigrant.
Main Characters
- Igor (Jérémie Renier): Teenage boy influenced by toxic masculinity.
- Roger (Olivier Gourmet): Igor's father, embodies extreme toxic masculinity.
- Amidou (Rasmane Ouedraogo): Undocumented immigrant, Igor promises to care for his wife.
- Assita (Assita Ouedraogo): Amidou's wife, central to Igor's transformation.
Key Themes and Ideas
Toxic Masculinity
- Igor is raised to follow his father Roger's toxic values:
- Suppression of emotions
- Domination and fear-based relationships
- Prejudice against different races, nationalities, and genders
- Roger's behavior:
- Tyrant, keeps immigrants dependent through low wages and high rents.
- Uses fear of deportation to control.
- Isolates Igor from positive influences and role models.
Igor's Initial Behaviors
- Emulates Roger's behavior towards immigrants and women.
- Contempt towards African and Eastern European employees.
- Misogynistic views influenced by negative experiences with women.
- Initial attempts to help Assita are paternalistic and controlling.
Transformation Through Empathy
- Igor's promise to Amidou requires a rejection of toxic masculinity.
- Realizes true empathy involves listening and engaging with Assita as an equal.
- Helps Assita by supporting her decisions and understanding her cultural practices.
- Recognition of the harm in controlling behaviors and the value of mutual respect.
Critique of the Film
- While exploring Igor's growth, La Promesse can perpetuate "othering" of immigrants.
- The film uses African immigrants as a tool for the protagonist's development.
- Relies on colonial stereotypes, depicting African immigrants through a lens of superstition.
- Later Dardenne films provide more complex portrayals of "The Other."
Conclusion
- La Promesse challenges toxic masculinity by depicting Igor's journey towards empathy and respect.
- Shows the limits of individual acts of kindness in dismantling systemic oppression.
- Highlights the necessity of empathy for meaningful change, despite its participation in some problematic narratives.
Additional Context
- Comparison to Dardennes' later works, like Lorna's Silence, where "The Other" takes center stage.
- Exploration of masculinity and systemic oppression in broader cinematic discussions.
Further Reading Suggestions: