It’s one of the biggest box office flops of 2014, but it’s a comedy that deserves to be a popular success. Only Here in the Kingdom of Jacky Girls – Riyad Sattouf’s second feature film – is now in the pantheon of works unfairly unknown to the general public.
There is no doubt that this film deserved a better fate. Jack in the Girls’ Kingdom hit our screens in 2014, following the success of Riyad Sattouf’s first film, Les Beaux gosses (adapted from her own comics). For the second film, the latter wanted to capture the original story, particularly inspired by his own childhood.
Jack in the Girls Kingdom takes place in a dystopian world ruled by the powerful General Bubun XVI (Anemona). In this democratic republic in name only, women hold the power while men are forced to wear veils and do household chores.
Taunted by his relatives for his ungraceful physique, young Jacques (Vincent Lacoste) still holds onto his dreams of greatness in the hope of being chosen as the husband of Colonel Boubun XVII (Charlotte Gainsbourg). To get closer to the latter, Jack decides to participate in a ball organized by the general.
The failure was felt badly by its director
Halfway between parody and burlesque, Jack in the Girls’ Kingdom portrays the inequality between men and women in an inverted relationship. The screenplay is inspired by Riyad Sattouf’s childhood memories in Syria, but also fairy tales (Cinderella, in particular), totalitarian propaganda and dystopian novels (including George Orwell’s 1984).
Receiving mixed reviews upon release in January 2014, the film failed to find its audience, with just 119,000 admissions while Les Beaux Gosses flirted with millions of viewers. A hard-fought defeat for Riyad Satouf, but one that nevertheless had happy consequences for the latter’s career.
Because shortly after the release of Jack’s Girls in the Kingdom, the designer plunged into the design of the comic “Future Arab”, a six-volume story about his childhood and his difficult relationship with his father.
Is a third feature film in the works?
This literary success opened the door to fame for Riyad Satuf. The latter has since published many best-selling comics, including Les Cahiers d’Esther, but also Le Jeune acteur, dedicated to his meeting and collaboration with his muse Vincent Lacoste (co-author of the project).
Riad Sattouf, already translated worldwide, was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix du Festival d’Angoulême this year. Buoyed by his status as a comic book superstar, the latter may soon return to film – after ten years in Jack’s Girls’ Kingdom – for a comedy featuring a trio of strangers.
In the meantime, do not wait for the film Second Chance, which will leave the catalog of the Amazon Prime Video platform on July 7!
Source: Allocine

Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.