This work is being submitted as a Mid Term paper and the course is Gender and Film. The reason for the paper is that it shows the true relationship between two people and the value of kind morals. It also depicts the wrongs of the society and shows that people who are greedy and selfish will never succeed in life. This movie is valuable in the lesson it teaches, since people before and presently, have often judged others by their appearance. I have selected this movie to remind people how shallow and unethical it is to behave in the way that is shown in the film. It was released on September 8th, 2006 by Stone Village Pictures. It cost 15 million dollars to make the movie and the box office gains were 21 million.
The movie “Penelope” tells a story about a cursed girl who has to grow up with a pig-face disorder. This happened because several generations back Wilhelm family’s son had an affair with one of the servants and the girl turned out to be a daughter of a witch. The son had abandoned the girl and she had killed herself. The witch then placed a curse on Wilhelm’s family that when they will have a daughter born, her face will be that of a pig. The only way the curse will be lifted is if Penelope finds someone who will love her as “one of her own.” Everyone thinks that this pertains to the nobility of the family but in reality, the curse is lifted when Penelope realizes that she loves herself the way she is and it does not matter to her how she looks on the outside, what is important is on the inside. This lifts the curse and from this moment her life is adjusted to the better.
One of the significant scenes in the movie starts at 5 minutes 47 seconds and lasts 1 minute 19 seconds. It takes place right after Edward Vanderman III runs out of the mansion because of seeing Penelope. Penelope is walking along the hallway upstairs and her mother, Jessica, is looking up at her. Penelope is listening to her mother being angry with the fact that Penelope showed herself. As she is listening, she is walking up the stairs to the next floor. At one point she leans over the railings and gives her mother a stare. Mrs. Wilhelm starts crying and goes over to the steps to sit down. Penelope walks down to her mother and sits down beside her. They exchange some words and Penelope consoles her mother. It is day time since it is possible to see the shadows and light reflecting on the walls. There is no music during the whole scene because it shows human emotions and the sadness of the moment. Penelope represents calmness and acceptance of her fate while her mother is very frustrated and saddened by the fact that they have lost another possible husband and that Penelope is cursed with such a face.
The scene shows the difference in human emotions. It contrasts between the character of Penelope and her mother’s. Penelope’s mother is devastated that they have lost another potential husband. She is seen as getting more desperate to lift the curse. Even though many years have passed since Penelope’s birth, her mother cannot get used to the fact that she has such a face. She has devoted her life to educating Penelope and taking care of her and so, she is determined to make sure that Penelope continues to have a good life and progresses into adulthood and life by herself. The scene also represents the pride and ability of people to cope with problems. Penelope is shown upstairs, above her mother, which is representative of her understanding and acceptance of her appearance. She was able to rise above this misfortune and find happiness is little things and own self. Penelope is shown strong and smart because she does not care anymore, she is not afraid to show herself and see the reaction that her appearance will cause. Jessica Wilhelm is shown to be down below, as if focusing her life and existence on unimportant things. She did a great job educating her daughter and the evidence to that is Penelope’s strong character and will. But her mother is stuck on the fact that her daughter’s nose is an abomination. In reality, she is unable to see that Penelope has made peace with it and does not care. She focuses on her own suffering and shame for her daughter, which is wrong. This scene represents the negative side of human society. People have focused their opinions on the way people look and this has been going on for ages and still goes on today. The scene is very well planned and thought out. The difference in physical position of characters adds to the deeper theme. This seemingly unimportant and short moment is truly the reflection of the major theme of the movie. Penelope was able to overcome her difference and she does not center her life on it. She is shown as understanding and much wiser than her mother. Her mother, on the other hand, reminds Penelope how different she is and reinforces the view that she will not be accepted because of her nose. This is very degrading and unethical but the fact that Penelope does not react in a depressing way, proves that this is not the first time she hears these words. The whole scene summarizes the movie, showing how unaccepting Penelope’s mother is—representing the society and focusing on her own inability to live a desirable and problem free life, whereas Penelope shows a higher state of being and comprehension with values set on character and not appearances. When Mrs. Wilhelm tells Penelope that she is not who she is, that her nose does not belong to her and that she is someone else inside, it shows the perverted and low views of society and people who make it so.
This movie is a great representation of the modern times and the unfair treatment that some people have to endure because of unethical upbringing of some individuals and their lack of understanding. It serves as a reminder that people should be polite and ethical and work on themselves, so that they do not judge people by the way they look but by how they act. It creates a clear separation between people who will look and turn the other way after seeing someone who does not look “perfect” and those who do not care and so, make true and life-long friends.