Netflix dropped a new movie last week, Damsel, and it's caused a lot of buzz around! The star of the show? None other than Millie Bobby Brown.
Remember the kid from "Stranger Things"? Yeah, that's her. Born in 2004, she's all grown-up now, rocking the world as a Gen Z actress and a producer. She's even bagged a bunch of Teen Choice Awards and made it to Time's 100 most influential people - the youngest ever to do so. Damsel is her third time as a co-producer. Looking at her three movies, it's clear Millie's got a knack for blending simple, universal feminist themes with commercial success factors.
Let's talk a bit more about Damsel. It's quite the anti-fairy tale. No true love, just a princess tricked by her father and the prince into becoming a sacrifice. The "evil stepmother and sister"? It turns out they're the ones who genuinely care for her. Spoiler alert - the father and the prince kick the bucket, and the princess bolts for a new life with the stepmom, sister, and a dragon.
I know as a Netflix film, Damsel has its skeptics. The scenes aren't grand, the story's simple, and the dragon-fighting bit could have added more oomph. But these are just minor hiccups for me. For a film that’s not going to be a big-screen blockbuster, it doesn't matter that much if there’s no grand scenes or epic plot. Its magic, though, lies in the strong feminist narrative.
It's not your run-of-the-mill fairy tale. It's got some deep stuff going on. The princess doesn't just whack a dragon to show she's tough. It's about the hard truth of life, especially for women. They've got her leaping off a cliff, symbolizing how women often get the short end of the stick in marriage. The names and messages scrawled under the cliff are like silent cries of countless womens' struggles. And the princess finding her way out of the cave is kinda like a metaphor for women finding liberation.
It doesn't pull any punches when it comes to patriarchy. The dad's a phony, the prince is a wimp, and the dragon is just a victim of power-hungry dudes. The real redemption only comes when women help each other and stand up for themselves. And the beauty of it is, the movie isn't heavy-handed or overly complicated. It's just a good watch, even if you don't dig too deep into the feminist vibes.
Damsel seems like another chapter in Millie's journey as a woman in film. You can also see her feminist perspective in her past two flicks,"Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess" and "Enola Holmes: The London Conspiracy".
Enola Holmes, who's usually just a side character in the classic The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, gets a mega upgrade in these films. Enola, Sherlock's sister, is now the main character and a total badass. Thanks to the influence of her open-minded and intelligent mother, she's super smart, independent, able to hold her own in a fight and cracks mysteries like a pro. When she turns 16, her mom decides to join the (then illegal) suffragette movement. Enola's search for her mom is a wild ride, during which she grows up fast and becomes a pretty awesome detective.
In the movie, Enola is just as talented and capable as her big brother Sherlock. But she's a girl, and that makes things complicated. She doesn't get the same chances or respect as Sherlock. She has to hustle twice as hard to get the life she wants. And her mom? She left to shake things up and make the world a better place for Enola and all the girls coming after her. You see this theme big time in Enola Holmes: The London Conspiracy. Enola heads to London and lands smack dab in the middle of the first women's worker strike. She ties the women's rights thing with the class struggle, showing just how much she's gunning for independence and freedom.
Actually, all three films Millie had a hand in making are commercial flicks aimed at young folks. They lay the feminist ideals on thick, which is great for spreading the word but can make the movies feel a bit shallow. But hey, they're reaching a bigger audience!
From a chill, feminist point of view, sure, Millie's take on feminism might seem a bit green. But her bold attitude and honest attempts are like a breath of fresh air to the work of new-age female filmmakers. She is this young lady who doesn't let the old world box her in. She's gutsy, self-assured, open to trying new things, and firm believer in the strength of women coming together. She's got this sunny vibe about her and doesn't need to go through tough times to have her lightbulb moments. She's shown us that things once labelled as 'not for little girls' aren't really all that daunting. She's all about love, be it with her folks, buddies, significant others, or furry friends. She's got a wholesome, vibrant soul that shines when she interacts with the world around her.
Compare her to the child stars of yesteryears, and you'll see that Millie's all about breaking free and calling her own shots. She isn't just okay with fitting into the world built by those who came before her; she wants to shake things up. And that, my friend, is what makes her a real Gen Z rockstar.
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