Ce qui nous lie – Looking Back at the Second Edition!

“Bourgeois Gaze vs Popular Perspectives”: on Thursday 21 May, the second event in the Ce qui nous lie series, created by Rose Lamy and Bourges 2028, took place in Bourges.

As the Cannes Film Festival was in full swing and the film industry was making headlines – notably with the “Zapper Bolloré” open letter – actress Corinne Masiero, essayist Rob Grams and author Rose Lamy came together to discuss the dominant perspectives that shape cinematic narratives.

Drawing on the concept of the “Bourgeois Gaze”, developed by Rob Grams in his book Bourgeois Gaze: La domination de classe au cinéma, the speakers engaged in an insightful and committed discussion. Nearly 200 audience members joined them, invited to reflect on the ways in which cinematic narratives shape how we see the world – and ourselves.

With sharp analysis, Rob Grams, Rose Lamy and Corinne Masiero examined several film excerpts around a shared observation: filmmakers’ biases are everywhere. From storytelling and characters’ first names to the lavish interiors of Parisian apartments, bourgeois life is often presented in cinema as the norm. Working-class people, meanwhile, are pushed to the margins, when they are not reduced to stereotypes.

The Ce qui nous lie series reflects Bourges 2028’s ambition to question what culture can be for everyone and by everyone: making culture more accessible while bringing together diverse audiences and enabling them to take an active role in the debates shaping our societies.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of Ce qui nous lie – the conversation is only just beginning, and there are plenty more surprises to come!