Francis is an incredibly skillful dry cleaner living in France. His life is pretty simple, working with his best friend, Marcus, and living with his girlfriend, Sonia. Where things get complicated is a new pop-psych trend where self-imposed abstinence has become a health and spiritual wellness fad. Sonia and Francis agree to one year without sex, but almost seven months in, Francis wants to tap out. Sonia disagrees, saying the promise is important to her before heading off to work at her women’s martial arts class. The ladies have a special guest that evening: Ti-Kong, a famous kung-fu fighting, adult superstar with a giant, 40lb member. Francis goes to the dojo in order to make up with Sonia, only to find her grappling with the well-endowed Ti-Kong. Ti-Kong and Francis have history, both former rivals in dickslap fighting tournaments over a decade ago. Francis storms off, falling in with a mysterious and somewhat obsessed patron from his dry cleaning job who says he understands Francis’ romance problems. The next day, Ti-Kong is found dead, “dickapitated,” and Francis is the prime suspect in his murder. Marcus and Sonia join forces to help prove Francis’ innocence and find far more than they bargained for.
A follow-up to the 2012 short film The Dickslap, Zénithal is hilariously immature and a master-class in character acting. The folks on screen play their roles straight, even when the story goes completely off the rails. This is absolutely a flick for adults, as nearly every moment drips with sexual humor and belly-laugh-inducing double- and triple-entendre. If your patrons love a silly, raunchy flick with B-movie sensibilities, they’ll really get a kick out of Zénithal. Just as important and divisive as the sexual humor is an analysis of the “male loneliness epidemic” that often receives a bit too much media attention. I was incredibly amused by the suspense of the main antagonist’s master plan and his cult-like following of weak-willed men. With their bizarre, homoerotic rituals and inability to act like reasonable people, this movie pokes fun at the similar culture and personal flaws among so-called incels. Zénithal really punches above its weight, both as a raunchy comedy and a satire film. Highly Recommended.
Why should public libraries add this raunchy comedy to their shelves?
Zénithal is an outrageous, adults-only French comedy that blends slapstick, satire, and pure absurdity into one of the most original sex farces in recent memory. Beneath the bawdy humor and gleefully explicit gags lies a surprisingly sharp critique of toxic masculinity and modern “wellness” culture. For libraries, it’s a wild card addition to international and cult-comedy collections that cater to mature viewers—especially those who appreciate offbeat, tongue-in-cheek European humor in the spirit of Rubber or Humpday. While certainly not for everyone, it’s perfect for patrons looking for something unapologetically silly, raunchy, and smarter than it first appears.
Is this French comedy a good fit for community screenings?
Yes—with discretion. Zénithal is best suited for adult programming, such as late-night or “Midnight Movies” series where audiences expect edgy, provocative, and unconventional fare. Its blend of over-the-top physical comedy, satirical storytelling, and exaggerated sexual humor makes it ideal for themed events celebrating cult cinema or international comedy. Libraries that host film clubs or adult viewing groups can use it to spark conversations about parody, gender politics, and how French filmmakers often push boundaries for both laughs and commentary. It’s the kind of film that will divide audiences but guaranteed to get them talking.