Viril: a documentary series questioning contemporary masculinity

Published by Julie de Sortiraparis · Updated on February 12, 2025 at 12:48 p.m. · Published on February 11, 2025 at 12:48 p.m.
Viril, ARTE's new documentary series, explores virility throughout history and in today's society. Between gender norms, social pressures and identity crises, an incisive look at what it means to be a man today. Available from February 14, 2025 on arte.tv and YouTube.

Is virility in crisis, or in the midst of change? That's the question posed by Viril, the new three-part documentary series by Camille Juza and Matthias Vaysse. Drawing on expert analysis, archive footage and videos from social networks, the documentary explores representations of masculinity and how they shape our society.

With an approach that is at once historical, sociological and pop, Viril seeks to understand why the masculine ideal, long perceived as an inescapable norm, is now being called into question.

Where and when can you see Viril in France?

Viril will be broadcast on arte.tv, YouTube and ARTE's social networks from February 14, 2025.

Synopsis: A pop, sociological and historical manual of virility. Combining expert insights, archive extracts and videos gleaned from social networks, *Viril* sheds light on certain representations of masculinity and investigates their recent deconstruction.

The three episodes deal with different facets of masculinity and its contradictions:

  • Episode 1: At the roots of the male - A look back at the history of masculinity, from antiquity to the 1970s, and the injunctions that shaped it.
  • Episode 2: Toxic - An analysis of masculinist discourse and the violence engendered by virilist norms.
  • Episode 3: Mâle Party - A dive into the world of work and politics, where masculinity continues to impose its codes and hierarchies.

Viril is aimed at anyone interested in gender dynamics and current social changes. With its accessible, fast-paced approach, the series will appeal not only to fans of committeddocumentaries, but also to those who want to better understand the debates surrounding contemporary masculinity.

Following in the footsteps of other ARTE documentaries such as Tous musclés and Toutes musclées, this series could appeal to the curious, social science students, feminist activists, or simply those who wonder about the evolution of gendered roles.

With Viril, Camille Juza and Matthias Vaysse offer a hard-hitting, modern analysis of masculine representations, exploring their origins, excesses and current recompositions. Combining humor, archive footage and expert commentary, the series poses an essential question: can we finally free ourselves from the shackles of virility?

This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the series mentioned.

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Dates and Opening Time
Starts February 14, 2025

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.
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