“Jim Queen” has arrived in Cannes – and claimed his crown.
Offered by World Constallation, the crowd-pleasing animation, produced by France’s Bobbypills and directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané, sees common Parisian homosexual influencer Jim reigning as the last word Fitness center Queen. He’s all about “tight shorts and zero body fat” – till in the future, his abs actually disappear.
Jim is slowly turning straight due to a virus referred to as Heterosis that’s been going round. Negative effects? Flabby physique, manspreading, obsession with soccer. And no prostate orgasm ever once more.
“Let’s face it – gay guys are obsessed with the way we look. It can be tough in this world, because you have to be in shape and you have to be young. I’m 43, and guys look at me differently,” Simon Balteaux tells Selection.
Balteaux wrote “Jim Queen” with Nguyen, Athané and Brince Chevillard.
“I used to be a Gym Queen myself. Now, I’m going to be a Daddy. It’s the next step, so I’m making fun of myself too. Although I’ll still go to the gym tomorrow.”
Nguyen provides: “There’s a lot of toxic masculinity in the gay community, too. You think it’s enough to say you’re gay, only to realize you don’t fit the standards because you weigh too much. It was very liberating to write this, and to write these jokes, because we talked about what we’ve experienced.”
Jim is altering and dropping followers, however one individual merely doesn’t care: younger Lucien, who’s in love with him although his closet remains to be very a lot shut. Collectively, they determine to discover a treatment for Heterosis, fleeing the “Gaystapo” and Lucien’s homophobic mom.
“It was so, so much fun to write. We wanted to convey lightness and joy, because that’s how I approach everything that happens in my life. We’re all going through a lot of shit, that’s obvious, but I try to see the bright side,” says Balteaux.
The movie additionally takes a more in-depth take a look at the LGBTQ neighborhood, the place “nobody mixes and always talks shit.”
“We mock everybody here – and ourselves,” laughs Nguyen.
“People used to see the LGBTQIA+ community as this one group, but the reality is more complicated. At the same time, we wanted to show that if something terrible happens and threatens to destroy the world, hopefully everybody can face this problem together.”
In line with Balteaux, they speak concerning the neighborhood as they’d discuss their greatest buddies.
“We love them, we know everything about them, but we can also be honest. And that’s the truth! It’s a love letter to the community, but not everything is perfect.”
Nonetheless, the precedence was at all times to be sort. Regardless that their protagonist struggles with that.
“I love that moment when Jim suddenly has this glimpse in his eyes and understands what kindness is. That’s so funny,” smiles Nguyen.
“Our production company Bobbypills, specializes in adult animation. They are not afraid of sexual content, but we didn’t want it to be pornographic or overly vulgar. There is sex, but it always leads to something. We didn’t just want to shock; we wanted to talk about love.”
As voices claiming that “homosexuality is an illness” refuse to go away, notes Nguyen, within the movie they flip it round.
“Conversion therapy is awful, and we show that as well. You cannot impose an identity or sexuality on anyone.”
Balteaux remembers: “I grew up in the countryside in the ’80s, and I used to think I was a freak. Making this film felt very cathartic. Now, I finally feel good in my own skin, and Marco helped me a lot: We say that I’m a gay from the country and he’s a gay from the city,” he laughs.
“We didn’t grow up in the same way, and it took me a long time to accept myself. I wouldn’t have sat like that [with my legs crossed] in the past. I’d try to appear more masculine. Now, I don’t give a shit.”
It was enjoyable to play with straight cliches for a change.
“Straight people can behave in a stereotypical way too, and not even realize it. Our two writers are straight. That’s why we managed to nail it,” he says.
Nguyen notes: “I love this moment when there’s a TV on and you can see the announcement that, now that everyone’s straight, Ricky Martin is marrying Kristen Stewart. I’ve heard people laughing at it.”
“I like the reference to ‘The Sixth Sense,’ when they say: ‘I see gay people.’ I’m so proud of this one,” grins Balteaux.
“I guess we made a political film, but it’s also because laughter can be a weapon. We’re very lucky – we live in a country where ‘Jim Queen’ could be made. But we still think of those in Senegal and trans people, also in the U.S. Maybe it will lighten their reality a little.”
“It’s a feel-good comedy. We want people to feel good,” says Nguyen, with Balteaux including:
“We just saw this video of two viewers in their sixties. After watching the film, they said: ‘We didn’t get all the references, but we still had a good laugh.’ We want to share the richness and beauty of the gay community with everybody.”
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