Maman und Ich

I enjoyed every minute of this unusual coming-of-age story. Guillaume is amusing to watch as the slightly naïve, effeminate son who thinks the world of his mother. His mother, a perpetually annoyed housewife, is equally engaging to watch. The film follows Guillaume's journey to self-discovery, from dance lessons in Spain, to boarding school in England, and even a luxurious spa in Bavaria. It is filled with hilarious moments and concludes on a heartwarming realization. Guillaume Gallienne is a wonderful revelation -- as the writer, director, and main character(s) in this film. If you are allergic to heavy drama, fear not, because this is mostly lighthearted and even during the few somber scenes, Guillaume finds a way to make the audience laugh.

It's one thing to realize and another to realize it. You might be one step closer, but you still have to take that second step. Subtle and fine but there. The movie on the other hand is not subtle. Just look who's playing the mother (actor) and who's playing the son. You might not realize it straight away (yes there is that word again), but when you do it won't be a hidden message.

Having said that, the movie is entertaining, unless you have a fear/hate for that kind of thing. It is kind of operatic and while the signs are there, it takes more to go all the way. It's a road movie in the aspect that you go places (many different languages many different jokes about countries, mostly working). Yes there are clichés and as pointed out, the movie tells you upfront what it wants to do. You'll either like it or you won't

This movie is so dear to my heart. I loved it the first time I saw it in the cinema and I still do now, three years later. It's such a heartwarming, feel-good comedy that I could watch endlessly! Maybe a little too simple if you ever expected a grand impressive performance, but that's what makes me love it. It doesn't try to be pretentious, on the contrary, it's genuine and eye opening on the main character/actor's sexuality (Galliene considers himself as bisexual). Now I only gave it 8 because objectively it's not worth a ten I think... But it's a movie from my country that I'm proud of :)

Directed by and starring the Comédie Francaise actor Guillaume Gallienne, ME, MYSELF AND MUM| offers the entertaining sight of one actor essaying the twin roles of Guillaume, the son; and his mother. She has had three children; two of them she regards as her sons, but Guillaume is the proverbial ugly duckling. This is chiefly due to his being uncertain about his sexuality - although born a boy, he thinks of himself either as a girl or a homosexual, he is not sure which.

The basic scenario leads to some comic complications, where Guillaume tries to behave like a girl but finds himself repudiated in a society that refuses to recognize the presence of gender difference. On occasions we are reminded of the classic sequence in Billy Wilder's SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959), where Jack Lemmon, disguised as a woman, keeps repeating the phrase "I'm a girl, I'm a girl, I'm a girl" in a desperate attempt to convince himself that he should think like a woman.

But what precisely constitutes the difference between "male" and "female" behavior? This is what ME, MYSELF AND MUM sets out to explore through the ingenious use of doubling. The mother comes across as someone content to read books in bed, and walk out in public like a pea-hen, all feathers and flummery. Guillaume is so impressed with her self-assurance that it's hardly surprising he wants to emulate her. Yet it seems that Galienne (as director) sacrifices the courage of his convictions in search of a happy ending; having spent three-quarters of the film creating a highly successful comedy that exposes the cultural constructions underpinning our conceptions of gender, he opts to show how Guillaume is actually a full-blown heterosexual at heart. Once he finds the right girl, his "true" sexuality can emerge. Consequently the film appears nothing more than a rite-of-passage ritual, its tone highly reminiscent of Fifties Hollywood melodramas which showed "crazy mixed-up kids" learning the value of home and family life, despite their checkered pasts.

This is highly disappointing; because Gallienne (as an actor) is a highly talented individual, someone whose mannerisms are so brilliantly delineated in the playing of the two central roles that we understand how many so-called "democratic" societies try to create absolute distinctions between masculinity and femininity. Anything in between is regarded as deviant. We end up wishing that he had followed this argument through to the end, rather than tacking on a sentimental coda.

An excellent representation and framing of the idea of 'becoming who you are' that is referred to by many philosophers, especially Nietzsche. Guillaume shares an extraordinary insight into his own journey of becoming who you are, despite the tsunami of resistance from the external world, including family. While watching this film, one starts to gain insight into one's own experience of gaslighting by the world and that interrupts our personal growth. It is not easy to write, direct, and act without coming across as self-absorbed but Guillaume's approach and acting manages to make us feel part of his story, never alienating the viewer and making us want to learn more. It looks stunning, music is great, all supporting actors are fantastic. Brought a tear of joy to my eyes.