Movielogr
Cuties (2020)
Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré
Twitter Facebook Google+Overview
Amy, an 11-year-old girl, joins a group of dancers named “the cuties” at school, and rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity—upsetting her mother and her values in the process.
Length 96 minutes
Actors
Fathia Youssouf Abdillahi | Medina El Aidi | Esther Gohourou | Ilanah Cami-Goursolas | Myriam Hamma | Maïmouna Gueye | Mbissine Thérèse Diop | Demba Diaw | Mamadou Samaké | Jean-Paul Castro | Bilel Chegrani | Canelle Brival
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/13/2020 | TV | Streaming | Video on Demand | 6 stars |
| (Average) 6 stars |
Viewing Notes
When the brouhaha started with this one (thanks to Netflix and their initial appalling marketing of the film) I thought this was a documentary. As the fervor continued to build w/the outrageous claims and silly letters from senators, I still believed this was a documentary that was being misconstrued. Turns out it’s not! It’s a narrative drama about a family from Senegal living in France and the daughter becoming obsessed with what she perceives to be “cool” and desirable, which is really a need for belonging and being accepted and ultimately attention.
I almost felt peer pressured into seeing this movie, one I really didn’t care to watch simply b/c I’m not a fan of the content (as I believed it to be a documentary touching on the already disturbing phenomena of oversexualizing children in reality television programming). Perhaps “peer pressured” is incorrect but with all the recent controversy and extreme reactions leading to the #cancelNetflix hashtag among others, without actually viewing the film I had no position or side on the matter. Not that I needed one but it’s been annoying to see this get played out more and more and not have any clue as to what was driving plastic pitchfork crowd.
Now that I’ve seen the film, an uncomfortable tale for sure, I’m of the opinion that A) the majority of these dipshits haven’t seen the movie, B) have only seen a few clips/scenes removed from context, or C) are just complete dumbasses inhaling Q*non paint fumes. I’m willing to bet that it’s all of the above.
It’s wild how maligned this film has become in just a short period but I’m not surprised. Yes, this story is unsettling yet it’s not positioning what makes it disturbing as anything but that. It is not an easy film to view esp. if you’re familiar with impressionable children in that tweener transitioning to teenager stage. However, this isn’t a film about exploitation but rather a cautionary tale. And one based in real shit that happens. If those people pearl-clutching over the content had actually seen this movie I feel they have a better argument in that this is subject matter most don’t know how to address because it’s too close to home. And frankly, as I alluded to earlier, this isn’t a new phenomena based on all those child beauty pageant shows and other similar programs that have existed for over a decade now.
The movie, as it stands, is well made with some tremendous acting from these young teenage girls yet it is uncomfortable. I believe that is the point. To read more into it is on the viewer and wanting to believe it’s something that it isn’t. Now I wish everyone would STFU and move on.
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