I really felt the lack of female companions for Bella too and wish that Toinette (didn’t even remember her name til reading this lol) had been more developed. Great piece!
I had to look up what her name was when I was writing it because I forgot too! It’s an added layer of disappointment that she’s the only woman of color in the cast who’s given a name and a (barely) speaking role, and her role is essentially just to be a plot device and signpost of Bella’s queerness
Totally agree, and relatedly I’m relieved/glad that Bella did have a queer experience given the movie was trying to be about sexual liberation, ha (but it’s so true that Toinette ended up being mostly a plot device)
Agreed, I’m glad it was included. I am a little conflicted about the depiction of their sexual relationship though — I think we only see them in bed together once? It’s really lopsided given just how much screen time is taken up by the sex Bella has with men. But it was more affectionate and not nearly as manic as her encounters with men so I’m not totally mad at it. Anyway, this is a lot of thoughts on a movie I didn’t even like that much lol
“In other words, she’s hypersexual but not hypersentimental – a male fantasy first conceived by Alasdair Gray … then reinterpreted by Lanthimos, and dreamed up anew by every man in the text who views Bella as an exotic curiosity to possess and exploit.”
THISSS!!! I had such issue with this film and your piece does a great job at explaining why. Very “male-feminist” critique of society that focuses solely on sex and sexual agency
I found it a frustrating viewing experience for sure — really entertaining to look at but so one-dimensional as a story. If it wins any Oscars other than costume design I will be so annoyed lol
I really felt the lack of female companions for Bella too and wish that Toinette (didn’t even remember her name til reading this lol) had been more developed. Great piece!
I had to look up what her name was when I was writing it because I forgot too! It’s an added layer of disappointment that she’s the only woman of color in the cast who’s given a name and a (barely) speaking role, and her role is essentially just to be a plot device and signpost of Bella’s queerness
Totally agree, and relatedly I’m relieved/glad that Bella did have a queer experience given the movie was trying to be about sexual liberation, ha (but it’s so true that Toinette ended up being mostly a plot device)
Agreed, I’m glad it was included. I am a little conflicted about the depiction of their sexual relationship though — I think we only see them in bed together once? It’s really lopsided given just how much screen time is taken up by the sex Bella has with men. But it was more affectionate and not nearly as manic as her encounters with men so I’m not totally mad at it. Anyway, this is a lot of thoughts on a movie I didn’t even like that much lol
Very true and thoughtful points! Also LOL
“In other words, she’s hypersexual but not hypersentimental – a male fantasy first conceived by Alasdair Gray … then reinterpreted by Lanthimos, and dreamed up anew by every man in the text who views Bella as an exotic curiosity to possess and exploit.”
THISSS!!! I had such issue with this film and your piece does a great job at explaining why. Very “male-feminist” critique of society that focuses solely on sex and sexual agency
I found it a frustrating viewing experience for sure — really entertaining to look at but so one-dimensional as a story. If it wins any Oscars other than costume design I will be so annoyed lol