Francois Ozon apparently watched Pier Paolo Pasolini's Teorema (1968), in which Terrence Stamp mysteriously seduces all the members of a family household. He thought that the idea was great, but it would be improved if the intruder was a pet rat, and that he seduces the entire family into doing perverted/shocking acts. Ozon was right on his assumption when he updated Teorema's plot to shock traditional French values with his feature film debut, Sitcom.
The film follows an typical bourgeoisie French family whose lives dramatically change when they adopt a pet rat. The son transforms from a reserved bookworm into an outspoken/sexually-liberated homosexual whilst the seemingly-normal daughter becomes obsessed with death and sadomasochism. Soon, the rat's influence extends to the other family members, including to the bewildered parents. I dare not say how the matriarch changes as I want that to be a surprise. This surrealistically leads up to a climax that would make Franz Kafka giggle with delight.
If you can stomach the outrageous satire, you too will giggle with delight at the film's absurdities. That's due to how well-crafted the film is, especially in the exceptional acting. Evelyne Dandry is simply wonderful as the matriarch who initially despairs at her family falling into "moral decline" before accepting it and embracing the radical acts herself. Another plus is the witty script- I laughed continually as the film mocks social norms to the point I don't want to reveal any more jokes as I fear the comedy will be ruined if I spoil it for the unsuspecting viewers.
Sitcom sadly isn't perfect despite its brave transgressions. It doesn't break any new ground - I can think of more shocking films than this one, and Ozon doesn't take full advantage of lighting/staging nor does he exploit the material for all its worth. Characters come and go when being in service to the plot, and key changes occur offscreen to the audience's annoyance. However, it succeeds in what it set out to do: improve upon Teorema's surreal concept and make it insanely funny for all the weirdos out there in the audience.
Another note to consider comes with the phrase "Sitcom" itself. The title naturally refers to those patriarchal-upholding tools of conformity, but Francois Ozon subverts those expectations by making his slice-of-life dramas into an Aristocrats joke a la John Waters. Further more, he advocates tearing down the patriarchy in order for society to progress. In an age where people yearn to be free from being strangled by traditions, Sitcom is certainly admirable for questioning the status quo by making fun of it.
