Passes the Bechdel test

The French Dispatch

Name: The French Dispatch
Released: 2021

2021. Directed by Wes Anderson, written by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola and Hugo Guinness.

The Bechdel test

Bechdel score

3 / 3

Passes

Yes 1. At least two women
17 women characters. 8 of them speak.
Yes 2. Who talk to each other
In 2 scenes out of 58.
Yes 3. About something besides a man
In those scenes, our script parser found no man named. See the scene.

Second opinion

Agree bechdeltest.com readers give it 3 out of 3.

The film

Faced with the impending dissolution of The French Dispatch, a factual weekly report on various subjects, old-school editor-in-chief Arthur Howitzer Jr. assembles the crème de la crème of the magazine's loyal expatriate journalists for one final issue. And against the backdrop of picturesque Ennui-sur-Blasé, Paris, France, three feature articles unfold. The vignettes pivot around tormented genius artists, statuesque prison officers, flamboyant critics, moody idealists, conflicted ace reporters, legendary chefs and, of course, the police.

Released: 22 Oct 2021
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Rated: R
IMDb: 7.1 / 10
Metascore: 75 / 100
Awards: Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards. 25 wins & 123 nominations total
Elsewhere: View on IMDb

Starring, by lines spoken

Women
Men
Not in the cast list
Bigger name, more lines

Krementz 97 lines, woman
Roebuck Wright 87 lines, man
Berensen 70 lines, woman
Cadazio 61 lines, man
Zeffirelli 57 lines, man
Rosenthaler 41 lines, man
Sazerac 36 lines, man
Howitzer 35 lines, man
Juliette 30 lines, woman
Simone 27 lines, woman

Full cast, 331 people

Benicio del Toro as Moses Rosenthaler
Adrien Brody as Julian Cadazio
Tilda Swinton as J.K.L. Berensen
Léa Seydoux as Simone
Frances McDormand as Lucinda Krementz
Timothée Chalamet as Zeffirelli
Lyna Khoudri as Juliette
Jeffrey Wright as Roebuck Wright
Mathieu Amalric as The Commissaire
Steve Park as Nescaffier
Bill Murray as Arthur Howitzer, Jr.
Owen Wilson as Herbsaint Sazerac
Bob Balaban as Uncle Nick
Henry Winkler as Uncle Joe
Lois Smith as Upshur 'Maw' Clampette
Tony Revolori as Young Rosenthaler
Denis Ménochet as Prison Guard
Larry Pine as Chief Magistrate
Morgane Polanski as Girlfriend
Félix Moati as Head Caterer
Mohamed Belhadjine as Mitch-Mitch
Nicolas Avinée as Vittel
Christoph Waltz as Paul Duval
Cécile de France as Mrs. B
Guillaume Gallienne as Mr. B
Rupert Friend as Drill-Sergeant
Alex Lawther as Morisot
Tom Hudson as Mitch-Mitch (on stage)
Lily Taïeb as Juliette's Friend
Stéphane Bak as Communications Specialist
Hippolyte Girardot as Chou-fleur
Liev Schreiber as Talk Show Host
Willem Dafoe as Albert 'the Abacus'
Edward Norton as The Chauffeur
Saoirse Ronan as Junkie / Showgirl #1
Winsen Ait Hellal as Gigi
Mauricette Coudivat as Maman
Damien Bonnard as Police Detective
Rodolphe Pauly as Patrolman Maupassant
Antonia Desplat as Junkie / Showgirl #2
Elisabeth Moss as Alumna
Jason Schwartzman as Hermès Jones
Fisher Stevens as Story Editor
Griffin Dunne as Legal Advisor
Pablo Pauly as Waiter
Wallace Wolodarsky as Cheery Writer
Anjelica Bette Fellini as Proofreader
Anjelica Huston as Narrator (voice)
Krishna Bagadiya as Blind Writer
Julien Lecat as Amanuensis
Gaelle Puimaly as Accountant
Leo Jennings as Copy Boy
Alexandre Steiger as Howitzer's Doctor
Philippe Peyraud as Man Smoking Cigarette
Gérard Merle as Man Outside Café
Jean Pierre Grasset as Weathered Man with Hat
Yannick Begoin as Magazine Delivery Man
Yves Gaillard as Old Man at Wine Shop
Jerome Caminotti as Old Man at Metro Map
Pierre-Yves Martron as Police Cyclist
Philippe Pelletier as Police Cyclist / Police
Landry Marinette as Woman Rolling Groceries
Natal Koli as Kansas Gravedigger
Côme Loury as Bootblack
Victor Piechaud as Bootblack
Charlie Rosser as Bootblack
Mathys Raynaud as Bootblack
Thomas Poirson as Bootblack
Gabriel Mesnard as Bootblack
Raphael Delage as Bootblack
Briac Aubin as Bootblack
Raphael Bancarel as Bootblack
Tiago Allaire as Bootblack
Martin Frappier as Bootblack
Raphael Dias as Bootblack
Victorien Belly as Bootblack
Samuel Amblard as Bootblack
Sam Poupart as Bootblack
Milo Bancarel as Bootblack
Charles Audry as Bootblack Customer
Francois Boussiron as Bootblack Customer
Jean-Pierre Coudert as Bootblack Customer
Patrick Morcelli as Bootblack Customer
Bernard Richefort as Bootblack Customer
Djemal Saidoun as Bootblack Customer
Vincent Griere as Bricklayer
Arthur Guillebaud as Bricklayer
Mehdy Hassani as Bricklayer
Jérémy Martincourt as Bricklayer
Nicolas Pasciani as Bricklayer
Eutrope Roger as Bricklayer
Marti Torrens as Bricklayer
Pierre Cantaral as Pickpocket
Louis Changeur as Pickpocket
Denis Havard as Pickpocket
Halbo Kool as Pickpocket
Pascal Lefort as Pickpocket
Jean-Benoit Pinot as Pickpocket
Gregory Sacriste as Pickpocket
Antonio Terroso as Pickpocket
Marc Tournier as Pickpocket
Jean Marie Camps as Butcher
Dominique Donnary as Butcher
Claude Gaume as Butcher
Jacques Grattepanch as Butcher
Damien Nadaud as Butcher
Gilbert Papponnaud as Butcher
Robert Rabouin as Butcher
Willem Rompen as Butcher
Jacky Souchet as Butcher
Malik Tati as Butcher
Jean-Claude Audouin as Man Shining Shoe
Alban Ploix as Ticket Vendor
Laurent Bauer as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Fanny Taccoen as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Tahnee Peterson Stuart as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Maud Brethenoux as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Anna Budanova as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Audrey Chemin as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Guillaume Ferrant as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Nisrine Mofaraj as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Polina Glangetat as Old Lady with Punks
Fabien Marcadet as Punk
Luc Louis as Punk
Karim Youssouf as Punk
Rudy Chaperon as Punk
Quentin Fournier as Punk
Orguiene Corniere as Punk
Manon Talandier as Punk
Lucas Bascans as Punk
Alexis Vignaud as Punk
Paul Raymond as Punk
Gilles Gauthier as Man with Camera
Nahel Bahnas as Choirboy
Akim Bahnas as Choirboy
Antoine Foo Cheung as Choirboy
Francois Foo Cheung as Choirboy
Samy Guerry Ghindri as Choirboy
Felicien Marais as Choirboy
Nathanael Marfin as Choirboy
Basile Vinueas as Choirboy
Evelyne Chapeau as Old Lady with Choirboys
Paula Kvasnikoff as Kissing Student
Vallier Vaudin as Kissing Student
André Coussy as Old Man Who Has Failed
Hassane Haimoud as Boy Scout
Pauline Chadanson as Streetwalker
Carlotta Costanzi as Streetwalker
Mauricette Genon as Streetwalker
Christelle Grelier as Streetwalker
Rachel Merabet Hrdy as Streetwalker
Sara Lacroix as Streetwalker
Delphine Landrieau as Streetwalker
Louise Laveuve as Streetwalker
Kylian Freslon as Gigolo
Meermout Didier as John in Car
Nicolas Saada as Lawyer
Yannik Mazzilli as Bartender
Guillaume Mailland as Representative Prisoner
Victor Nicolas as Butcher Boy
Jean Delabre as Cruel Man in Tavern
François-Pierre Fol as Vivaldi Trio
Bruno Torres as Vivaldi Trio
Jean-Louis Verdier as Vivaldi Trio
Grégory Trouvé as Caterer
Loic Baxas as 'Maw' Clampette's Doctor
Eliel Ford as Cadazio's Nephew
Mathéo Sallat Desvard as Cadazio's Nephew
Dominique Barrier as Magistrate
Pascal Champareau as Magistrate
Sacha Seguin as Maid
Jacky Vallantin as Foreign Legion Officer
Domingos Enrico as Rosenthaler Father
Abdel Nour Bouaza as Rosenthaler Son
Fanny Rebuffic as Simone at Six
Juliette Raffray as Simone at Twelve
Lou Lampros as Simone at Sixteen
Odile Fougère as Simone at Forty
Sandro Kopp as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Pedro Firmino Cunha Da Souza as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Pascal Battelier as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Lionel Lassuderie as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Duc Minh as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Cyril Morandiere as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Benoit Nacaud as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Jean Jacques Peyraud as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Lubna Playoust as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Patricia Richefort as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Owen Nsimba Soba as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Adrien Yeung as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Jean-Michel Audoual as Prison Guard
Félix Bouin as Prison Guard
Patrick Brousse as Prison Guard
Raynald Caraguel as Prison Guard
Lhoussine Chinkir as Prison Guard
Xavier Dupin as Prison Guard
Eric Garaud as Prison Guard
Morgan Lorca as Prison Guard
Laurent Pizzolato as Prison Guard
Romuald Cormeunier as Prisoner
Didier Da Costa as Prisoner
Antonio Da Silva as Prisoner
Charlie Defraine as Prisoner
Erick Dues as Prisoner
Jacques Fauvel as Prisoner
Yoann Gaillard as Prisoner
Anthony Poupart as Prisoner
Thierry Gonzalez as Prisoner
Sébastien Guignard as Prisoner
Raphael Lagrue as Prisoner
Simon Malyon as Prisoner
David Robles as Prisoner
Sharif Andoura as Professor
Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus as Mayor
Laureen Perrocheau as Zeffirelli's Sister
Mallaury Reby Perrocheau as Zeffirelli's Sister
Sophie Fougère as Aide
Genevieve Brillet as Secretary
Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet as T.V. Reporter
Jarvis Cocker as Tip-top
Bruno Delbonnel as François-Marie Charvet
Bérénice Bernard as Student
Jean Bourdet as Student
Antoine Bourgeais as Student
Lou Salomé Brizard as Student
Zoé Delisle as Student
Julies Desrosiers as Student
Simon Ecary as Student
Ida Fermaud as Student
Hugo Fontaine as Student
Raphael Gallego as Student
Tom Grandadam as Student
Adrien Hans as Student
Adèle Herisson as Student
Antoine Jové as Student
Pierre Lamoureux as Student
Quentin Ledru as Student
Salomé Lesaffre as Student
Rémi Larcher as Student
Hugo Leonard as Student
Elliot Lienard as Student
Sybil Marzin as Student
Thy-Lane Monnet as Student
Munik Neth as Student
Florine Paulius as Student
Emeline Penet as Student
Coline Peron as Student
Constantin Rytz as Student
Bertille Rondard as Student
Alice Sarrauste as Student
Igor Secherre as Student
Laura Studden as Student
Emilien Wiss as Student
Boris Zanni as Student
Angus Henderson as Student
Gaëtan Billères as Student
Sally Bruice as Student
George Smith Burgess as Student
Marie Derambure as Student
Alix Champy as Student
Victor Chevalarias as Student
Lise Cordellier as Student
Arthur Dalle as Student
Lola Degove as Student
Sean Delaunay as Student
Michael Didier as Student
Juliane Fath as Student
Julie Gervaos as Student
Rachel Guerineau as Student
Guillaume Laverdant as Student
Théo Malet as Student
Titouan Maret as Student
Stephen Martin as Student
Nathan Mazeau as Student
Lucas Nativel as Student
Théo Navas as Student
Marie Lucie Parisot as Student
Émile Pélissier as Student
Constance Prost as Student
Matéo Salanave as Student
Théo Hollando Sigot as Student
Manon Taccoli as Student
Gauthier Rigaud Perut as Student
Raphael Coutant as Student
Émilie Tronche as Student
Toheeb Jimoh as Cadet #1
Nick Croucher as Cadet #2
Sam Haygarth as Cadet #3
Samuel Blenkin as Cadet #4
Jake Gorridge as Cadet #5
Calvin Williams as Cadet #6
Pierre Aloui as Additional Cadet
Louis Blanchard as Additional Cadet
Hugo Bony as Additional Cadet
Adrien Brault as Additional Cadet
Alex Chadeffaud as Additional Cadet
Matisse Croizard-Niveau as Additional Cadet
Alfie Flight as Additional Cadet
Théo Fibaque as Additional Cadet
Mathieu Grattard as Additional Cadet
Paul Lafon as Additional Cadet
Elie Mazalrey as Additional Cadet
Samuel Montgomery as Additional Cadet
Florian Salasse as Additional Cadet
Quentin Veillon as Additional Cadet
Benjamin Lavernhe as Toothpowder Spokesman
Gabriel Ryan as Younger Gigi
Léo Gack as Cadet / Nanny
Cécilia Anseeuw as Junkie / Showgirl #3
Gilberto Fallat Valle as Stetson van Altman
Monique Lapeyre as Spinster van Altman
Christian 'Kiki' Delpey as Hieronymous van Altman
Cyril Sierk as The Jeroboam
Jean-Claude Loulmet as Ancient Concierge
Jean-Pierre Chabernaud as Police
Olivier Lecossois as Police
Philippe Szezepanski as Police
Noël Wojcik as Police
Gontran Bisserier as Police
Christian Cordoba as Police
Thibault Descamps as Police
Jonathan Herbon as Police
Marceau Jarrossay as Police
Tiburce Oger as Police
Noé Richefeux as Police
Gilles Verdegay as Police
Kublah Diezi as Kidnapper
Stéphane Le Bras as Kidnapper
Armand Pierdon as Kidnapper
Gilles Frougier as Kidnapper
Yann Hedan as Student

Who talks, scene by scene

Lines of dialogue in every 2 scenes, start to finish. Women above the line, men below. 9% of lines come from characters we couldn't match to the cast list and aren't shown.

Women

Men

Scene 1 Scene 58

Hover, tap or tab to a bar to see those scenes: where they happen and who's talking.

Show the numbers

Scenes	Women's lines	Men's lines
1 to 2	0	0
3 to 4	0	3
5 to 6	0	1
7 to 8	6	44
9 to 10	0	7
11 to 12	3	4
13 to 14	10	17
15 to 16	22	21
17 to 18	1	23
19 to 20	20	15
21 to 22	18	8
23 to 24	1	1
25 to 26	23	33
27 to 28	8	7
29 to 30	33	15
31 to 32	24	29
33 to 34	57	55
35 to 36	2	3
37 to 38	3	3
39 to 40	4	0
41 to 42	0	10
43 to 44	0	42
45 to 46	0	24
47 to 48	6	14
49 to 50	0	22
51 to 52	0	8
53 to 54	0	5
55 to 56	0	9
57 to 58	9	24

The evidence

Straight from the script
Counted from the script and the credits

Tap an exhibit to open it.

Exhibit A: the passing scenes

The scene our parser counted as passing, word for word.

BERENSEN: “Maw”? An advance against the total sum? CLAMPETTE: Tell them stingy Frenchmen I ain’t making no promises. BERENSEN: “Ten Reinforced Cement Aggregate Murals” was to remain on hold under the name Upshur Clampette for the subsequent twenty years.

JULIETTE: Page two, “Proclamation 7”. KREMENTZ: In spite of the purity of their cause , the students, nevertheless, KREMENTZ: split into factions before fully uniting in first place. JULIETTE: Page five, “Edict 1 ”.

JULIETTE: Oh. JULIETTE: I’ll save this souvenir, but for the rest of it: I couldn’t disagree more. KREMENTZ: Remind myself: you are a guest at this manifestation. Not my fight. Stay out of it, Lucinda. Keep your mouth shut. KREMENTZ: I have to say something. You’re a very bright girl, Juliette. If you’d put away your powder-puff and think for yourself you might realize: y…

JULIETTE: You believe I haven’t informed myself properly? Or taken important matters seriously? I assure you, it’s not the case. KREMENTZ: That was impolite. Of me. I withdraw the remark. JULIETTE: If you wish. KREMENTZ: I beg your pardon.

JULIETTE: Important to whom? KREMENTZ: Grown-ups.

Exhibit B: every 100 lines

Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 36 are women's.

250 lines from women, 447 from men.

Women
Men

Exhibit C: who's in it

17 women and 51 men in the cast. 8 women and 33 men from it get lines.

Characters

With lines

Women
Men

Exhibit D: who gets heard

The first woman speaks at line 29 of 764. The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 83 lines.

Every line of dialogue, first to last

First line by a woman
Longest stretch with no woman speaking

Words spoken

Women speak 34% of the words (2,889), men 66% (5,619). Women have 36% of the lines, so their lines run shorter than men's.

Exhibit E: the test the other way

Two named men talk to each other about something besides a woman. It passes the reverse test.

Conversations between two named characters

Two women

Two men

Exhibit F: behind the camera

3 of the 17 people in these jobs are women. Across the whole crew, 32% of the people whose gender is listed are women.

Directed by: Wes Anderson (man)
Written by: Wes Anderson (man)
Story by: Wes Anderson (man), Roman Coppola (man), Jason Schwartzman (man), Hugo Guinness (man)
Produced by: Wes Anderson (man), Jeremy Dawson (man), Steven M. Rales (man)
Shot by: Robert D. Yeoman (man)
Edited by: Andrew Weisblum (man)
Music by: Alexandre Desplat (man)
Production design by: Adam Stockhausen (man)
Costumes by: Milena Canonero (woman)
Cast by: Douglas Aibel (man), Antoinette Boulat (woman), Jina Jay (woman)