Number One

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Audience Member (Español / English) Abstract español La número uno es un drama corporativo muy diferente al que nos tiene acostumbrados el cine estadounidense. Si bien la cuestión de género es central en la descripción del acceso de una mujer a un puesto de relevancia en un mundo empresario dominado por hombres, las propias dudas de la protagonista acerca de ese posicionamiento y la falta de sentido de gesta le añade muchos matices al relato, un relato con contradicciones que nunca cae en el cinismo y con un mensaje claro muy lejos del panfleto. English Abstract The number one is a corporate drama very different from the one we are used to in American cinema. Although the gender issue is central in the description of a woman's access to a relevant position in a business world dominated by men, the protagonist's own doubts about this positioning and the lack of sense of achievement add many nuances to the story, a story with contradictions that never falls into cynicism and with a clear message far removed from the pamphlet. Reseña español Una importante ejecutiva de una empresa privada de energía (Emmanuele Devos) es contactada por una agrupación feminista de mujeres influyentes para proponerle competir por la dirección de una importante empresa mixta francesa, uno de cuyos rubros es el agua, comenzando a partir de allí una serie de confrontaciones e intrigas. La número uno es un drama corporativo muy diferente al que nos tiene acostumbrados el cine estadounidense. Si bien la cuestión de género es central en el acceso a puestos de relevancia en un mundo empresario dominado por hombres, las propias dudas de la protagonista acerca de ese posicionamiento y la falta de sentido de gesta le añade muchos matices al relato. Es notable la sutileza y la agudeza con la que Tonie Marshall (directora y coguionistya) describe las diferencias que implica ser una CEO importante para una mujer, en especial entre sus pares, y las articula con su vida privada. Desde ya que las batallas e intrigas por el poder corporativo también se habrían dado con un postulante varón, pero la película hace notar las diferencias. El cuadro general es realista por sus contradicciones sin caer en el cinismo y con un mensaje claro que no nunca cae en el panfleto. Participa un elenco sobresaliente encabezados por la gran Emmanuelle Devos, que provoca la inmediata empatía del espectador y un interesante Richard Berry como su oponente. English Review An important executive of a private energy company (Emmanuele Devos) is contacted by a feminist group of influential women to propose that she compete for the management of an important French joint venture, one of whose sectors is water, starting from there a series of confrontations and intrigues. The number one is a corporate drama very different from the one we are used to in American cinema. Although the gender issue is central to accessing relevant positions in a male-dominated business world, the protagonist's own doubts about this position and the lack of sense of deed add many nuances to the story. The subtlety and sharpness with which Tonie Marshall (director and co-writer) describes the differences involved in being an important CEO for a woman, especially between her peers, and articulates them with her private life is remarkable. Of course, the battles and intrigues for corporate power would also have occurred with a male applicant, but the film highlights the differences. The general picture is realistic due to its contradictions without falling into cynicism and with a clear message that is never found in the pamphlet. An outstanding cast participates, led by the great Emmanuelle Devos, who provokes the immediate empathy of the viewer and an interesting Richard Berry as her opponent. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review julia p Drama demonstrates (as if we didn't know) how the "boy's networks" excludes women from top jobs, etc.... A woman seeks to challenge this and networks close ranks, her husband loses his job as a consequence, etc. Will she win out in the end? (I got a little lost in last third of the film, so not sure I quite followed the plot. Perhaps I need to concentrate more when there are subtitles?) Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An excellent and timely movie. Emmanuelle Devos is brilliant in the lead role. Fabulous script and cinematography. A searing commentary on contemporary French culture. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Saw this terrific French film at the Toronto International Film Festival, and we were treated to a Q&A after the screening with the warm and funny director Tonie Marshall. It's about a brilliant woman (played by the marvelous Emmanuelle Devos) and the war she must fight to become CEO of a national utility company. It depicts the particular ways in which the modern working world has been built to block women's progress, from outright and blatant misogyny to thoughtless structural exclusions. Whether you live and work in France or in Canada (as I do), it will be relatable to every working woman who has had to politely sidestep male flirtations (or worse), who has been held back from promotions because of gender-based assumptions about our ambitions, who has been overtalked by a man (or been cautioned by a supervisor not to overtalk a man), who has had to carefully explain that we can't attend 8 am meetings because daycare doesn't open until 7:30, whose male spouses have made assumptions about our willingness to shoulder the bulk of the domestic workload... Hoping the film will get wide release, but as Marshall said in the Q&A after the film, it runs the risk of being considered a "niche market" film, despite it being relatable to 51 percent of the adult population. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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