French animated film ‘Jim Queen’ tackles se*uality, stigma through humour

CANNES: A new French animated film exploring sexuality, identity and stigma through satire and humour has premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, drawing attention for its bold storyline and social themes.

Titled Jim Queen, the adult animated movie follows a Parisian influencer who contracts a fictional virus called “Heterosis,” which slowly turns gay men straight.

Director Marco Nguyen said the film was inspired by his personal experiences within the gay community and aimed to portray aspects of nightlife, relationships and social pressures that are rarely shown in mainstream animation.

Co-writer Simon Balteaux said the film also reflects the impact HIV/AIDS had on younger generations in the LGBTQ+ community.

“We grew up with the fear of HIV, and it shaped how many people viewed sexuality and intimacy,” Balteaux said at the Cannes premiere.

The story centres on Jim Parfait, a muscular social media influencer whose symptoms include developing an interest in sports, wanting children and losing his toned physique. As he becomes increasingly isolated from his social circle, he begins searching for a cure with the help of Lucien, an awkward admirer and collector of sex toys.

The filmmakers said animation allowed them to present serious topics in a lighter and more accessible way.

“Animation helps make difficult conversations easier to approach while still keeping the humour alive,” Balteaux said.

Nguyen and Balteaux also revealed that securing funding for the project was challenging, saying many investors felt the film was “too gay” for mainstream audiences.

According to the creators, it took nearly eight years to gather enough support to complete the project.

The filmmakers said they hope Jim Queen will encourage more producers and investors to support diverse and unconventional comedy films in the future.