**SPOILERS**
The movie started off with good intentions and had me smiling through most of it. Unfortunately, the entire thing was ruined by the last act.
Everything the filmmakers had created was ultimately thrown away by creating an air of "it's just a phase" or conform to the proper gender norms of society. Gender identity is one of the most difficult and misunderstood things anyone can go through. Hell, even same-sex parents have admitted to having to "get used to" gender non-conforming children. It is an incredibly touchy subject that still requires grace when trodden. The film was handling all of this in a seemingly well done manner and I knew some conflict would have to arise for a lesson to be learned.
What was the conflict? Mother finds out about daughter's "masquerading" as a boy, mother flips out, hits child and then pursues punishment in the form of parading her daughter around as a proper girl to the kids she had made friends with as a girl. The filmmakers tried to ease the mother's ridiculous outburst by saying she didn't mind her daughter "playing" the boy, which made the insult even harsher as she continued to effectively ruin her daughter's life. Great parenting. I'm sure that kid will grow up to be quite healthy and balanced growing up in that home.
What was the lesson? What should have been more of a "Know Thyself" film, became a "follow the herd" film. Everything the mother did is supposed to be forgotten, as if she is acting in the child's best interests (aren't all parents? Please Google Love In Action: Refuge). The line "Don't you want to go outside and play?" at the end literally made me say out loud, "WITH WHO?! You just took away all of his friends!" The "friends" immediately turn on the child (as kids do) once they find out about her real gender and Mikael (now officially Laure again) is forced into dresses and "girl things". The audience is supposed to feel as though everything will be all right when of the friends reaches out at the end. Unfortunately, this only further solidifies the fact Mikael is now gone, and it is time to "grow up" as Laure. Put away those childish notions of being a boy.
To writer/director, Céline Sciamma: please, PLEASE stay out of things you do not understand. The LGBTQ community is much better off without you.
The movie started off with good intentions and had me smiling through most of it. Unfortunately, the entire thing was ruined by the last act.
Everything the filmmakers had created was ultimately thrown away by creating an air of "it's just a phase" or conform to the proper gender norms of society. Gender identity is one of the most difficult and misunderstood things anyone can go through. Hell, even same-sex parents have admitted to having to "get used to" gender non-conforming children. It is an incredibly touchy subject that still requires grace when trodden. The film was handling all of this in a seemingly well done manner and I knew some conflict would have to arise for a lesson to be learned.
What was the conflict? Mother finds out about daughter's "masquerading" as a boy, mother flips out, hits child and then pursues punishment in the form of parading her daughter around as a proper girl to the kids she had made friends with as a girl. The filmmakers tried to ease the mother's ridiculous outburst by saying she didn't mind her daughter "playing" the boy, which made the insult even harsher as she continued to effectively ruin her daughter's life. Great parenting. I'm sure that kid will grow up to be quite healthy and balanced growing up in that home.
What was the lesson? What should have been more of a "Know Thyself" film, became a "follow the herd" film. Everything the mother did is supposed to be forgotten, as if she is acting in the child's best interests (aren't all parents? Please Google Love In Action: Refuge). The line "Don't you want to go outside and play?" at the end literally made me say out loud, "WITH WHO?! You just took away all of his friends!" The "friends" immediately turn on the child (as kids do) once they find out about her real gender and Mikael (now officially Laure again) is forced into dresses and "girl things". The audience is supposed to feel as though everything will be all right when of the friends reaches out at the end. Unfortunately, this only further solidifies the fact Mikael is now gone, and it is time to "grow up" as Laure. Put away those childish notions of being a boy.
To writer/director, Céline Sciamma: please, PLEASE stay out of things you do not understand. The LGBTQ community is much better off without you.