AllMovie

The first time directorial effort of Ronan Girre, who previously composed scores for two Eric Rohmer films, Virilite et Autres Sentiments Modernes is a social comedy about power and the struggle between the sexes. Shy, underachieving Alexis (Bruno Putzulu) is a 30-year-old night watchman who watches horror movies and does the occasional acting or voice-over job. One day, Alexis' friend Mathilde (Emmanuelle Meyssignac) sets him up with Laura (Estelle Skornik), a successful and highly ambitious businesswoman who happens to literally breathe fire when she gets overly angry. Laura encourages Alexis to embrace his inner megalomaniac, and, realizing his inner potential, he does, and creates quite a sensation. Caught up in his new success, Alexis foolishly believes that he has only himself to thank for it, until Laura teaches him a well-deserved lesson.