Is Chani in Dune 2 a role of feminist adaptation?

Finally, I watched Dune: Part Two .

Yes, the audio-visual effects blew me away: The sound were vibrant enough, not to mention the sandworm rides - they couldn’t be more thrilling. However, I gotta say, the plot left me scratching my head a bit.

A few questions popped into my mind: How come the Harkonnen family, the big shots of the story, get beaten so easily in the final showdown? Why would the Emperor show up in person just because of a letter? Also, I was wondering why the Fremen were so quick to accept Paul. And if the Bene Gesserit are as powerful as they seem, why aren't they ruling instead of just supporting the monarchy?

So, I had this chat with someone who've read the book, and they gave me some answers. I get that moving a hefty novel into a three-hour movie means big changes. Villeneuve's take is as faithful to the original as it can, but still it's a new thing. Some changes, like chopping down Paul’s time with the Fremen from a whopping four years to just 10 months, are a bit of a shocker. It's hard to swallow that a religious leader could pop up in such a short time. But there are some cool adaptations too, like Chani's character makeover.

In the book, Chani is Paul's sweetheart and a total worshiper of him. When Paul decides to marry the princess for political gain, she’s cool with it, becomes his mistress, and dies after having twins. She's the typical female character in hero tales, there to give emotional backup to the guy in the lead.

The movie, though, gives Chani a major revamp, turning her into a character with backbone. The film "Dune" is a journey - high-tech but with a feudal political system. And then there's Chani. She's a breath of fresh air in this old world. She's not into religion, a straight-up atheist, and she's the only one who seems to have a clear head among all the religious frenzy. She's anti-colonialism and believes the Fremen should run Arrakis and better their lives, opposing to the idea of fighting the empire by the leading of a new King like Paul. She's all about equality, free love, and being Paul's equal, in love and in battle.

Chani's anger makes total sense. She's upset about Paul using the Fremen's superstitions to play the savior. She's also not fond of Paul's plan to stay married to the princess for power after getting his revenge. It's not just a broken heart - it's her beliefs being let down. So, when everyone else was bowing down to Paul, she doesn’t. She chooses to walk away. The final shot of the movie is her angry stare as she's about to leave, and it really emphasizes the anti-hero vibe and adds some serious drama to the story.

So, if someone asks, "Is Chani's character in 'Dune' a feminist statement?" Well, compared to the original, yes. But by today's standards, I have to say, not so much.

Here is my point. In the movie, Chani does bring a modern and feminist perspective to this old tale, but it's not revolutionary. "Dune 2" is still a guy's movie. Zendaya's Chani seems more independent, but she's still really just a tool for the story. I call these types of female characters "camera heroines."

These gals are like a camera, there to help the audience watch and understand the fate of the male characters. So, most of her scenes are about portraying the image and experience of the male protagonist. All of her experiences help the audience further understand what the male protagonist is going through. She's important only because we see the male protagonist's adventures and experiences through her. But her own story does not get told. She watches the male protagonist's power struggle, but doesn't get involved herself. She's sad about how the male protagonist's fate changes, not about her own. In the end, we understand and empathize with the male protagonist through her, but we don't know what's going on in her life.

For example, in the book, Chani helps Paul fit in with the Fremen, teaches him how to survive in the desert, provides him emotional support, and eventually has his children and loses her life. She's an important tool for Paul's character arc. But that's it - just a tool. '

In the original "Dune", Chani never leaves.

In "Dune: Part Two", Chani leaves at the moment, but we know she'll be back.

In future "Dune" movies, Chani might not be by Paul's side. She'll battle alongside the Fremen in her own way, experience thrilling battles, and achieve her own victory.

That'll be a whole new story, which I am very excited about and looking forward to.