Ordinary women are definitely not ordinary

Danielle 2022-03-09 08:01:58

The film "Ordinary Woman" tells the story of Marina, a shape-shifting person, who encounters between society and her boyfriend's family after her boyfriend's death. The film itself is an LGBT-themed film, but for the presentation of the protagonist’s femininity in the film and the director’s gender identity for the female protagonist, we can use the analysis method of feminist film theory to interpret the evolution of women’s identities in the film with experience.

At the beginning of the film, the director introduced it with a male as the beginning. Part of the purpose was actually to imply the transgender identity of the heroine in the film. At the same time, the first appearance of the heroine Malena was also introduced by the male vision, and the audience followed the male Orlando vision. Seeing Malena with the pace, it is also shown in this film that women are still the ones being watched.

Malena's first appearance in the audience

The director first used simple and ordinary movie love clips to show the love story between the two, showing that Malena is also an "ordinary woman" with love and nourishment, and after the hero (Marlene's boyfriend) Orlando died, Everything started to change.

First, Malena's transgender identity was discovered, and the society's attitude towards her was very unfriendly, and even maintained a discriminatory attitude. Both the police and the doctor suspected that she intended to kill Orlando, and when she wanted to escape from the hospital, she was misunderstood as absconding in fear of a crime; the female police officer who hindered her beauty asked to investigate her, and launched a series of almost meaningless inquiries and examinations. When asked why this is necessary, I only got a sentence "This is a necessary procedure".

female police detective representing power

Then faced with Orlando's family, the ex-wife thought that Malena was a shame Orlando brought her, so she wanted to get rid of the financial entanglement with Malena, and even deprived her of the right to attend Orlando's funeral. Orlando's son was disgusted with her. He didn't regard Malena as a woman, but thought she was just a disgusting gay, and even had violent behavior later. Even Gerber (Orlando's younger brother), who has always been friendly to Malena, expressed his rejection of her and promised to give her a portion of Orlando's ashes in exchange for Malena's absence at the funeral.

The background of this story is set in Chile, because in this country, transgender has not been generally accepted by people, so after the exposure of Malena's identity, she must have received infinite contempt and disgust.

As a transgender, Malena's desire to just be a normal woman is evident in the film. When encountering difficulties, she always fights and faces them in a calm way. In social identity, she is just an ordinary woman who works as a waiter during the day and a resident singer at night. When faced with unequal treatment, she chose to fight in her own way. For example, when her son in Orlando warned him to move out of the apartment, she firmly told him, "My name is Malena", which is undoubtedly emphasizing her female identity ; When she loses her lover, she will also become decadent, open the closet to capture the taste of the former lover, and even see the vision of Orlando in the daze.

Malena's thoughts on Orlando

And what did she get in social life? I was treated unfairly again and again, and even finally found out that the man I loved might not love me as much as I imagined. The cabinet linked to "Secret of 181" can well show that Orlando did not give Mariena. what is left. And this secret was obtained by Malena using her male identity again.

Malena is 'male' again

In the end, in the farewell to Orlando's body, Malena said goodbye to her relationship, and at the same time walked towards her new life in a singing way.

In fact, some small details in the film are also worth pondering. At the beginning of the film, the Iguazu Falls are presented, which echoes the travel they mentioned later. At the same time, the shape of the waterfall is the same as the shape of the necklace on Malena's neck. horseshoe shape. There is also Iguazu Falls in "Breakthrough", which is the dream paradise and soul of Li Yaohui and He Baorong; here, it has become Marilyn's "castle in the sky".

There is a scene in the film where a naked Malena puts a mirror between her legs, and the mirror is her own face. The director did not show the authenticity of her identity, but the director's own warmth. It became a key, heralding that she began to become her own liberator and face life again. In addition, Malena's lover is called Orlando. In Sally Potter's film "Orlando", Orlando is a person who does not name his own gender. Is this name setting an insinuation of the director's ambiguous gender for Malena? ?

"Orlando" movie poster

There is a scene in the film where a naked Malena puts a mirror between her legs, and the mirror is her own face. The director did not show the authenticity of her identity, but the director's own warmth.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that Daniela Vega is the first transgender actress in Chile. The director commissioned Daniela to play Malena, which is more sincere and realistic emotionally.

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Extended Reading
  • Darian 2022-03-24 09:03:45

    It's hard for ordinary women, let alone transgender...

  • Krista 2022-03-23 09:03:26

    Looking at the empty lockers, Marina really woke up. She is just an ordinary woman, why should you allow you to bully her? !

A Fantastic Woman quotes

  • Profesor de Canto: Saint Francis says, Make me an instrument of your love, make me a channel of your peace.

  • Sonia: [to Marina] Sorry if it's crude and blunt of me to say this, but I really think that this is just perversion. Sorry, but... When I look at you, I don't know what I'm seeing. A chimera, that's what I see.

    Marina Vidal: A chimera... yeah.

    Sonia: Sorry.

    Marina Vidal: There's no need to be sorry. You're normal, ma'am. You're fine, ma'am.

    [walks away]