This is really just a short follow up on an earlier post. Today, the Los Angeles Times has a really good piece" on the dearth of strong women in comedic roles on the big screen. Carina Chocano makes some excellent observations about recent comedic films, and her observations should prompt further questions about why these movies have unappealing men playing opposite women with no character to speak of. Is it just money in the movie industry? Does Hollywood doubt that comedies with strong female characters and flawed male heroes can make money? Could they be right? Is there something more going on in our culture? I think it is worth noting that the U.S.A. may be the only film industry with such a problem. The film Persepolis suggests that France is capable of launching a solid film about a strong and complicated comedic female lead.
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Image still comes from the website for Persepolis.
2 comments:
I think you mean Iranian immigrants in France are "capable of launching a solid film about a strong and complicated comedic female lead."
Sorry dear reader that I missed this comment. I actually disagree that Persepolis is strictly about Iranian immigrants in France, though the film certainly speaks highly of Marjane Satrapi as well. But French money supported it, French actors and actresses read for it, and French staff worked on it. This would suggest to me that Iranian immigrants in France and the French more broadly are less afraid of strong comedic women then Hollywood is.
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