☛ Cette critique est aussi disponible en français [➦].

Translated by Gabrielle Baillargeon-Michaud. 

Monia Chokri is a director, screenwriter, and actress. Magalie Lépine-Blondeau is an actress and television host. They kindly agreed to discuss their project, Simple comme Sylvain, with Les 3 sex*.

Sophia, a 40-year-old philosophy professor, finds herself mired in the complacency of a stagnant romantic relationship. The word desire, derived from the Latin desiderare, typically conveys a sense of absence or longing for something missing. However, the film demonstrates that desire also encapsulates movement. When Sophia falls for Sylvain, an entrepreneur with whom she shares little besides a fiery mutual passion, she bursts into a state of exhilaration.

In her third film, Simple comme Sylvain, Monia Chokri explores the complexities of desire and love and the delightful chaos they create. In a discussion with Les 3 sex*, she voiced her intention to infuse more authenticity into the portrayal of women on screen. "I aimed to examine the desire of a woman at 40, who, just as any man, contends with her intellectual existence, her urges, and desires which could contradict her values." When Sophia sets her eyes on Sylvain, she feels an uncontrollable urge to get closer—a life-affirming impulse that leads her to rediscover her sexuality. She is transformed yet torn by her uncontrollable attraction to Sylvain, a symbol of masculinity, which clashes with what she thought she wanted. However, Chokri doesn't just play on gender stereotypes—she successfully paints a humorous and ironic caricature of the bourgeoisie, although her depiction of the working class occasionally veers into the cliché.

What is novel and clever about Simple comme Sylvain is Chokri's nuanced play with the concept of the desiring woman as gentle, cautious, and submissive. Instead, we see  Sophia surrender to her desires, embracing her contradictions and primal urges. In the words of Magalie Lépine-Blondeau: "[Sophia] is a woman of her time. Suddenly, she meets Sylvain, who awakens another part of her. She retreats into what can be viewed as more traditional roles. Her journey somewhat reverses the usual narrative." Chokri prompts us to reflect on the modern social tenets that dictate what supposedly constitutes liberated sexuality. Sophia doesn't just indulge her wants—she fully experiences life through the freedom to love unconditionally and without judgment. With its comical, refreshing, and sharp tone, Simple comme Sylvain offers a contemporary and unapologetic view of desire.

Reference

Director/Creator: Monia Chokri
Title: Simple comme Sylvain
Release date: September 22, 2023

This movie is available on Crave.