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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

TW "Cuties" - Netflix film about an 11-year old twerking dance crew

127 replies

TBHno · 20/08/2020 01:53

I haven't seen the film, but the poster and blurb makes me want to vomit Sad

www.thehollywoodnews.com/2020/08/18/trailer-for-netflixs-cuties-a-film-about-an-11-year-old-who-joins-a-free-spirited-dance-clique/

OP posts:
Scout2016 · 20/08/2020 12:12

That's what I mean about consent with child actors - I suspect they may look back on the photos differently in years to come. Out of context without seeing the film it's hard to say how much merit it has as a film, it may be is has something important to say and does it well. So they may feel they were part of something to be proud of. But on images alone, I would not want my DD posing like that in those outfits. I don't even like bikinis bring made / sold for little girls, or clothes with questionable slogans on that they are too young to understand (or often even read.)

TBHno · 20/08/2020 12:19

Even if it does make a point about the errors of sexualizing kids, it could have done so without actually sexualizing them? For example, Little Miss Sunshine.

OP posts:
Londonsuffolkmummy · 20/08/2020 12:41

Wtf have I just watched

ValancyRedfern · 20/08/2020 12:56

Little Miss Sunshine is an amazing film. Thanks for reminding me of it OP. I need to do a re-watch!

Goosefoot · 20/08/2020 15:19

@Scout2016

The thing is, this is how a lot of kids at dance competitions will be dressing and they copy the dance style of the day, which, unfortunately, might include twerking. I hate seeing kids dressed like this but I am aware that I am projecting an adult mindset onto it - the kids just like the clothes and think they look cool and like pop stars, the vast majority won't grasp the sexualised aspect or be aware of the risk they face from paedophiles. That's the sad part, that it's not ok for children to wear what they want, or (for younger kids more I guess) nothing, or copy dance routines, however unsavoury, because some adults make it unsafe for them.
I don't know, I don't think it's just about adult projection, or being unsafe.

The clothing is meant to be sexual, it's not random that outfits in those competitions are perceived that way. If I went to the ballet studio down the road, they outfits might show as much skin as the local competitive dance school, but you can't imagine them being worn in a sex club.

And while the kids may not get it at first, they do soon enough and start to see that kind of sexualisation of their bodies as something to be expected, or even pursued.

My niece has danced in one of those schools since she was little, with outfits that always pushed the limits of taste. Now at 15, she will try and go out with her friends wearing things like booty sorts with attached garters. And when her mom says, no, she says - well, I wore this for dance, and her mom doesn't have a lot she can say, other than to forbid it because she says so. She can hardly say that it's not a healthy attitude to present yourself as a sexual object.

Suffrajester · 20/08/2020 16:05

@Mollscroll

This is what happens with Lolita (a book I hate although I’m prepared to accept it has literary merit). It’s all supposed to be about the corruption of Humbert but it’s always illustrated with highly sexualised images of a pre teen girl. Because no one really wants to read about a creepy old perv. They want images of Lolita sucking on a lollipop.
Nabokov always insisted that it NOT be illustrated with a picture of a girl. It's about a paedophile and how he grooms his victim and her mother and everyone else around her, and he tries to groom the reader. Sometimes the mask slips and he'll admit to himself and the reader things like "she simply had nowhere else to go", and Dolores will cut through his flowery poetic bullshit and say "oh yeah, when you raped me?" It's quite telling how many people (men) can read that book and come away thinking it's about the girl or about how sexy she is or how she somehow manipulates Humbert (which she doesn't at all, he's the one bribing her pocket money to even bear to be around him); it only shows how creepy they are and agree with Humbert. I have less of a problem with Lolita because it deals with the issue of child rape in a book form, it shouldn't really be filmed or involve child actors. Whenever they've tried to adapt it to film, it's been dirty old Hollywood execs who've either glamorised it or have cast an older actor, 18-20 something, to play Dolores, when she's meant to be very obviously a child (though you can't/shouldn't really cast a child actor in something like that anyway), so the whole thing ends up being an apology for paedophilic abuse when it's not meant to be, it's meant to show up what a sicko Humbert is and how manipulative his apologism is.
SerendipityJane · 20/08/2020 16:12

No one remember "Minipops" ?

Suffrajester · 20/08/2020 16:24

@SerendipityJane

No one remember "Minipops" ?
Ahhh I'd forgotten about that! That show was mad noncey.
PenOrPencil · 20/08/2020 17:21

I came on here to see whether this had been discussed yet..

Change.org petition against it.

How can we get the power of mumsnet to intervene? I love Netflix and don’t want to have to boycott it!

MorrisZapp · 20/08/2020 17:41

If you think it's Netflix marketing at fault, watch the trailer. It's a film about four eleven year old girls learning to twerk. It's every bit as bad as it sounds.

Wondersense · 20/08/2020 17:55

@Mollscroll

This is what happens with Lolita (a book I hate although I’m prepared to accept it has literary merit). It’s all supposed to be about the corruption of Humbert but it’s always illustrated with highly sexualised images of a pre teen girl. Because no one really wants to read about a creepy old perv. They want images of Lolita sucking on a lollipop.
That's so true. That's far more appealing to the intended readership than holding up a mirror on the front cover so they can see themselves.
fascinated · 20/08/2020 18:17

It sounds like the issue isn’t really the film. It’s that this is happening in real life anyway....

fascinated · 20/08/2020 18:22

Don’t see much difference between the two posters. Both show girls acting/dressing way beyond their years...

TheRealMcKenna · 20/08/2020 18:36

This restores some of my faith in the good sense of viewers versus the arts world.

TW "Cuties" - Netflix film about an 11-year old twerking dance crew
Siameasy · 20/08/2020 19:05

Why is it only girls’ dance sexualised like this?
I did all sorts of dance as a kid and the non ballet stuff was then called “modern” and I suppose it was a bit like aerobics but now it seems you have to be ridiculously flexible, wear hot pants and pull strange facial expressions.
My DD does dance and the 8 year olds are twerking. I won’t enroll her in “street dance” because of that.

Thefalconsrevenge · 20/08/2020 22:31

I watched the trailer & have just cancelled my Netflix account in consequence.

A young member of my family (I’ve name changed) was sexually abused by her stepfather from age 8. He’s now in prison. I don’t know if he’s allowed Netflix in there- but if he is, he’ll no doubt be watching this.

I don’t care who made it or what their intentions were. The men watching it will be doing so for the little girls wiggling their little girl hips. This normalises these men’s appetites. I think there is something seriously wrong at Netflix.

colincaterpillarcake · 20/08/2020 23:06

Just watched the trailer. I see all the points re: Netflix marketing for the male gaze.

But mostly I see that this is where the libfem 'sex work is empowering' narrative has for us. Oppressed girl of colour breaks free of family expectations by....twerking.

Suffrajester · 20/08/2020 23:17

@colincaterpillarcake

Just watched the trailer. I see all the points re: Netflix marketing for the male gaze.

But mostly I see that this is where the libfem 'sex work is empowering' narrative has for us. Oppressed girl of colour breaks free of family expectations by....twerking.

That's exactly what pimps, pornographers, johns and traffickers exploit: they offer what seems to be a way out of a desperate situation and easy money, when it's anything but. And shows like this (and Pretty Woman, Secret Diary of a Callgirl etc and porn itself) glamorise it and sanitise the dangerous, violent reality of what these women and children are put through. Everyone likes a rags-to-riches or empowerment story, but it's also a dream that every conman or abuser sells their marks.
Suffrajester · 20/08/2020 23:24

God I miss films like Bend It Like Beckham. Asian girl from strict conservative family works hard to practise and excels at a hobby and wins round her family while dealing with racism, sexism, teenage angst and her friendships (and also her friends' parents' different expectations of them, her white girl friend being expected to be pretty and feminine, her gay friend being expected to be straight, and them dealing with their own families), and not a bit of male gazey creepiness in sight! Much better story and did the same concept much better.

ItsLateHumpty · 21/08/2020 01:31

7 hours ago - from Netflix

twitter.com/latimes/status/1296545386350354433

“We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.“

2 hours ago - Los Angeles Times

twitter.com/latimes/status/1296545386350354433

“Netflix issued an apology after thousands signed a petition demanding the immediate removal of the controversial film“

www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-08-20/netflix-cuties-petition-french-film

“On social media, people are calling Netflix’s poster for the movie — which pictures its four preteen stars posing in costumes baring their legs and midriffs — “disgusting,” “upsetting” and “sick.” Netflix has apologized for its promotional materials but there are no plans to scrap the film, which is set to debut globally on Sept. 9.

ItsLateHumpty · 21/08/2020 01:35

Sorry! Here’s the correct link for the Netflix tweet 🤦‍♀️

twitter.com/netflix/status/1296486375211053057

“We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”

DidoLamenting · 21/08/2020 05:03

Actually from these professional reviews the Netflix poster seems entirely accurate as to the content of the film.

www.screendaily.com/reviews/cuties-sundance-review/5146293.article

www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2020/film/reviews/cuties-review-1203476991/amp/

decider.com/2020/01/23/cuties-sundance-review-netflix/

These are representative of the fairly gushing, positive reviews.

DidoLamenting · 21/08/2020 05:07

I think there is something seriously wrong at Netflix

The female director who made the film bears no blame then?

The film has been shown at Sundance and the Berlin Film Festival. Netflix is distributing it now but it's not a Netflix commission.

DidoLamenting · 21/08/2020 05:18

cineuropa.org/en/interview/390968/

Interview with the director. Doesn't really explain very much.

Gingerkittykat · 21/08/2020 05:39

I'm going to reserve judgement till I have seen the film for myself, I can't tell from the reviews whether it is just exploiting young girls or whether there is more to the film.

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