Three Films about Women that Make Me Stronger
These three films make me more understanding about the repression of women that can happen everywhere and in many ways both physically and mentally. It also encourages me to face a patriarchal society. The patriarchal society attempts to define women according to their ideals, not by the women’s willing. However, it is not the end of women’s life, women can decide something different from society’s hope, although it will take a lot of risks.
1. Little Women
Little Women is based on the novel entitled Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868). There are many versions of Little Women adaptation films, the newest is directed by Greta Gerwig (2019). However, I watched the 1994 version of this film.
This film tells about the life of four sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) of March’s family in Concord, Massachusetts during the American Civil War. They live with their strong Mother called Marmee, while the father fought in the war. Jo loves to write scripts. The favorite activity of the four sisters is performing plays of Jo’s scripts. Laurie–a boy of their neighborhood, often participated in their ‘performance’.
Years pass, Meg has married, Beth’s health is getting worse after contracting scarlet fever, Amy accompanies her Aunt to go to Europe, while Laurie has graduated from college. Jo disappoints with the Aunt’s decision to take Amy to Europe instead of her. She then went to New York City. She pursues her dream to be a writer. Although she experiences some rejection, she does not give up.
Louisa May Alcott is inspired by her family members and friends. She identifies herself as Jo. Her story represents the 19th-century society’s hope to woman, that they should concern only with household works. However, Jo’s character crushes the image of the ideal woman through her struggle to pursue a dream as a writer.
2. Persepolis
Persepolis (2007) is an animated film based on a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. This film is an autobiography of Marjane as a young girl who grows up in the Iranian Revolution Period. Marji’s (the little name of Marjane) family realizes that the social-political situation is getting worse. The Shah’s successor implements the Islamic Fundamentalist order in Iran. One of the national rules is Marji and other women students have to wear a veil in the school. Marji does not like every obligation and indoctrination by the new regime. However, Marji and her family should adapt to life under the new regime.
Once a day, worry about the safety of their daughter, Marji’s parents send her to a French school in Vienna, Austria. Marji grows as a free person. Unfortunately, she should return to Iran because she is sick and their family thinks that it will be better if she lives in Iran after the war. She goes to university and joins some student’s parties. She remains rebellious even after the fundamentalist police targeted her. She openly debates the sexist double standard in her university. Finally, Marji’s family decides that she should leave the country for a long time so she can avoid arrest by the Iranian authorities.
Marjane Satrapi creates her autobiographical graphic novel because she does not want the image of Iran to only be related to “fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism”. She believes that “an entire nation (of Iran) should not be judged by the wrongdoings of a few extremists”.
3. Bombshell
Bombshell (2019) is directed by Jay Roach and the script is written by Charles Randolph. It tells about the sexual harassment case in Fox News. Three women anchors of Fox News (Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Kayla Pospisil) struggle to reveal the sexual harassment case that is conducted by their boss–Roger Ailes. Gretchen Carlson, ex-anchor of Fox News brings a lawsuit against Ailes. Megan Kelly is a senior anchor also become a victim of Ailes in the early time of her career. Kelly goes to Pospisil–a new anchor, one of the victim’s of Ailes. Kelly asks Posipil to talk to the investigator about sexual harassment by Ailes. A long time before, Kelly has dropped her report of Ailes’ harassment because she does not want to ruin their career as an anchor. Kayla is surprised because Megyn has a powerful position as a senior anchor, but “she’s still playing in the old rules” or prefer to silence about this case.
This film is based on the true story of the sexual harassment case by Roger Ailes, Chief Executive of Fox News. He eventually was punished by law in 2016, a year before his death.
The situation becomes harder for sexual violence victims, especially when the perpetrators spread terror. It makes the victims feel more hesitant to tell about their stories. Finally, the courage of Carlson, Megyn, Kayla, and other women staff members to speak up, can reveal sexual harassment cases in their office.