Sexual Scapegoating dalam Film L’Anatomie d’Une Chute (2023) Karya Justine Triet

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the practice of scapegoating directed at individuals with minority sexual orientations, through collective accusations produced by characters in the film L’Anatomie d’Une Chute by Justine Triet. Scapegoating is a social mechanism that blames others to relieve collective tension. This practice emerges in the interaction between the female protagonist and both power structures and the public. The film tells the story of Sandra Voyter, accused of murdering her husband, Samuel. Sandra’s identity, perceived as part of a minority group (bisexual), influences how the public and prosecutors assess her during the trial. As a result, she is positioned as the scapegoat for the conflict. This study employs René Girard’s perspective to examine the scapegoating mechanism experienced by the main character. The film is analyzed using narrative content analysis, with the material object being L’Anatomie d’Une Chute. The data corpus consists of scenes and dialogues related to the scapegoating mechanism, analyzed using Girard’s theory. The findings reveal aspects that manifest the mechanism toward the main character: sexual orientation, her identity as an immigrant, and her status as a wife whose achievements surpass her husband’s. These three aspects trigger scapegoating and othering of the female character.