Since I haven’t seen any movies lately I thought I’d add two
things about Snow White and the Huntsman.
I have read many comments about how the movie dealt with the
issue of female power coming from beauty.
To be sure it is an element in the story, but no one commented on a
couple of things that I saw.
For one thing, there were criticisms that in no way is
Kristen Stewart more beautiful than Charlize Theron. Putting aside whether or not that is true,
the movie deals with it. Snow White is
not said to be more beautiful, she is called more fair and her beauty is
explicitly stated to be of her heart and not her appearance. So, yeah, not so much supporting the evil
queen’s position that only physical beauty confers power.
Also, the idea that men use women and throw them away. The king doesn’t do that, and neither do
either of the two main male characters in the movie. The childhood friend William, who becomes
friends with Snow White when they are children, spends his life regretting not
being able to save her even though he was a child. There is nothing sexual about this bond. When he learns that she is still alive he
rides off to rescue her not because he wants her for sex (he may but that isn’t
the stated motivation) or to be his bride but because he has a chance to
finally redeem what he sees as the single greatest failing of his life: he let
down a friend – and now he can help his friend.
Then there is the Huntsman.
When he is brought before the Queen there is a brief scene where he explains
why he is a depressed drunk who doesn’t care whether he lives or dies – and who
would welcome death though he isn’t the type to commit suicide. He tells the Queen that he is miserable
because he was unable to keep his wife safe after she had saved him from
depression after the war. He sees
himself as unworthy of her and is devastated because she died when he was
away. His life is worthless because his
wife is gone. He is nothing without the
woman he loves.
The Queen has what turned out to be a throwaway line where
she is surprised that the Huntsman cares for his wife. They didn’t do anything with that which I
think is a shame, but it was in there.
Is this all very male-centric, yes, but only until Snow
White gets her chance to show that she is not a damsel in distress and everyone
around her sees that as well. She
doesn’t do much fighting, but she dons her Joan of Arc costume and helps lead
the charge. And of course she is the one
who confronts the queen.
It’s not a perfect movie, but I am amazed at how much was
missed by the people who reviewed it.
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