It is difficult to argue with the fact that the role of women in the early days of cinema was a predetermined time. If we consider the characteristics of the cultures of different countries, it is noticeable how strongly they are displayed in the cinema because a woman, just as in ordinary life, has no rights, but on the contrary, must always be close to her man and be entirely faithful to him (Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film, 2020). The films examined this semester were those that broke such a stereotype and challenged the role of women on big screens and had a tremendous social significance.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Black Girl were made in the second half of the 20th century when cinema was already widely known worldwide. However, these pictures embarrassed the viewer because the main characters were women, which was not typical of that time. Moreover, they were shown there in situations that can only be imagined in today’s world. Although both films have standard features, they tell their story differently due to the peculiarities of the genre. The first film is more comic, about women who, although different in relation to men, get along well and are ready to help each other in a difficult moment. This picture shows that male representatives can have similar emotions and feelings. The other one has a deeper meaning; besides sexist relationships, the film also touches on the themes of racism and poverty (La Noire De…/Black Girl – ENGLISH SUBS (1966), n.d.). This film is full of dramatic moments and reflections on the fact that even the closest people have feelings and can suffer. This is especially true for black women, whose rights have been infringed with particular cruelty.
Reference
Research – Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film. (2020). Web.
La noire de…/Black Girl – ENGLISH SUBS (1966). (n.d.). Web.