There is a negative spotlight currently on the film business that has slowly but surely started shining across all industries. Be it creative, political or scientific the me too movement has brought on discussions not only regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. It has opened an overwhelmingly large can of worms on the topic of all things gender equality. Be it salary, promotions or representation within government now is very much a time to reflect on the role of women in charge. What better way to do this than screening a film regarding just these ideas at the Edinburgh International Film Festival? Woman Up (Numero Une) is as clever as it is relevant and a must see during these times of lively debate on a society rattling issue.

Emmanuelle (Emmanuelle Devos) is an extremely successful business executive within a large French energy company. Along with her career she juggles her family and the care of her recently hospitalised Father. At a conference on women in business, Emmanuelle is approached by a prominent women’s/feminist group that have heard of a recent CEO position opening up in a major company. A company where having a woman at the helm would be noticed on a large and important scale. Emmanuelle makes the decision, along with the help of the group to put herself forward as a candidate & begin to search for support. However, in a world where big business is seen as “man’s territory” and CEOs are predominately male, Emmanuelle finds herself in a battle for not only the job, but for women in power in general. Against a torrent of misogyny and gender focused slander, can she and the women around her overcome the resistance to having a woman on top?

Considering this film was in process long before the words Weinstein, Trump and harassment were ever uttered in the same sentence it is remarkable how relevant it is to what is happening right now. This is not to say that it is about sexual harassment, because it’s not. It is also in no way “anti-male”. The best way to describe the script written by director Toni Marshall and two others is pro-equality. It simply shows what happens on a daily basis in the corporate world, but with an engaging story and perhaps less misogyny than in reality. The content was made up from an assimilation of stories that Marshall had been told by the executive women that work day in and day out in the La Defense area of Paris. This shows in the writing which does well not to come off as over-dramatic or crude as the sexist comments and actions in the film are all entirely believable. While at the same time incomprehensible to watch. Marshall does not shout or harshly point fingers with the characters and narrative. She simply lays out the struggles which all types of women anywhere can face within employment in a manner which many celebrities and politicians have been expressing recently. Emmanuelle Devos’ performance strongly urges the audience to root for her character as she fights to convince those around her of her merit. The supporting roles by both men and women are also well played and sincere in portraying the struggles for both genders in a changing society. Woman Up is a film about women for everyone, and with the discussions on equality only getting bigger it should be set for great success in days to come.

Director: Tonie Marshall
Writers: Raphaëlle Bacqué (collaboration), Marion Doussot
Stars: Emmanuelle Devos, Suzanne Clément, Richard Berry
Stephanie Allard
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