This is a film that people talk about for all the wrong reasons. It's a
coming-of-age film about a girl growing up under the control of a suppressive
patriarchal religion.
The film is set in Paris, but it could just as well take place in any other
large city in Europe. Aminata Diob (nicknamed Amy) is the 11-year-old daughter
of immigrants from Senegal. Her mother forces her to do things she doesn't
want to and dress in a way she doesn't want to. At first glance we think her
mother is a strict Moslem, but as the film progresses we see that she's also
only doing what's expected of her.
When the film starts, Amy is an outsider. The other girls look down on her
because she dresses differently. She wants to be one of them. First she
dresses in similar clothing (without her mother's knowledge), and then she
dresses even more provocatively.
Within a few days Amy goes from being an outsider to being the centre of
attention.
Many people say that Moslem women should be allowed to cover their heads if
they want to. I agree, but the emphasis is on if they want to. Very few
Moslem teenagers want to cover their heads. They're forced into it by their
parents, especially their fathers. After years of brainwashing they become
adults and take it for granted. That's what we see with Amy's mother. For
years she's been contented with her life, but now her husband has gone back to
Senegal to take a second wife. It makes her cry, but she accepts it, because
her man can do whatever he wants.
When I lived in Birmingham I had a Pakistani friend in my film group. She was
an adult, but she still lived with her parents. She told me that she always
covered her head when she left her house, but as soon as she was out of sight
she took her head scarf off. She even burnt her Koran in the garden, but she's
terrified of telling her father what she's done. She only confided in
me because she knew I had an open mind. She's condemned to put on the pretence
of being a good Moslem.
Women should have the right to do whatever they want, whatever their religion
is. No man should dictate to them. It's slightly different with young girls. I
understand that when a girl is only eleven she should obey her parents, but
the parents should be wise enough to talk to her and explain everything.
If a girl is forced to dress conservatively against her will, it's likely that
she'll go to the opposite extreme and dress too provocatively.
That's what happened to Amy.
"Cuties" is a Netflix original film. After four years it's been removed from
the site, but it hasn't been made available on disc, apart from
a French DVD without English subtitles. In my opinion it's shameful. No film should be allowed to disappear. I'm
glad that I made a high density copy before it was taken down.
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