A Feminist Perspective

Introduction

When ‘Sucker Punch’

was first released, it

was given a very poor

reception.

Often being called

‘sexist’ and ‘your

typical male fantasy

story’, it is usually

assumed and dismissed

to be so (even by

people who have never

seen it!)

Introduction

When ‘Sucker Punch’

was first released, it

was given a very poor

reception.

Often being called

‘sexist’ and ‘your

typical male fantasy

story’, it is usually

assumed and dismissed

to be so (even by

people who have never

seen it!)

My interpretation

of this film was

very different.

Underneath the

initial ‘layer’

of male-gaze-

dominated imagery

was, what I felt,

a very strong

feminist

viewpoint.

Feminismnoun

the advocacy of women's rights on

the ground of the equality of the

sexes.Google Definition

In Film:

As of 2014, only 30.9% of speaking characters in films are women.

The average ratio of men to women in film is 2.25 : 1

Girls and women in film are twice as likely as boys and men to be

shown in suggestive clothing or naked.

In 2011, of 100 of the most popular films of the year, only 11

had female protagonists.

New York Film Academy.

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

Colin Stokes - ‘How Movies Teach Manhood’.

Feminismnoun

the advocacy of women's rights on

the ground of the equality of the

sexes.

‘Sucker Punch’, in comparison to a lot of

modern mainstream cinema:

Has a female protagonist and four other

female primary characters, as well as a

few other important female roles.

Passes the Bechdel Test.

Addresses issues regarding gender inequality in an implied format.

Plot

‘Sucker Punch’ is a story

about a young girl

nicknamed ‘Baby Doll’ who

is institutionalized after

accidentally killing her

little sister whilst

trying to protect her from

their abusive Stepfather.

Her Stepfather, who is

actually after an

inheritance left to Baby

Doll by her deceased

mother, plans to have her

killed whilst in the

mental facility with the

help of a corrupt Orderly

named ‘Blue’.

Whilst in the

institution, Baby

Doll retreats to an

alternative reality

as a coping method.

In this fantasy, she

envisions a plan

which will help her

and several of her

fellow inmates

(Sweet Pea, Rocket,

Blondie and Amber)

escape from the

mental facility.

Plot

‘Sucker Punch’ is a story

about a young girl

nicknamed ‘Baby Doll’ who

is institutionalized after

accidentally killing her

little sister whilst

trying to protect her from

their abusive Stepfather.

Her Stepfather, who is

actually after an

inheritance left to Baby

Doll by her deceased

mother, plans to have her

killed whilst in the

mental facility with the

help of a corrupt Orderly

named ‘Blue’.

Feminist Viewpoints – Female Bonds and ‘Sisterhood’

An important

aspect of ‘Sucker

Punch’ is the

female

relationships

involved in it.

Throughout the

film, the bond of

the five female

leads is very

important to the

story – and is

treated as such.

Feminist Viewpoints – Female Bonds and ‘Sisterhood’

Feminist Viewpoints – Satire

Although this point is rather

debateable, it could be argued

that some of Sucker Punch’s

extreme uses of costume and

sexual themes is somewhat

satirical.

Satire is generally seen

societally as a comedic form;

and because of that, when

something tries to be

satirical without being funny,

it tends to fall short of the

point it’s trying to make.

Feminist Viewpoints – Satire

In many films,

gratuitous shots

of the female form

are used time and

time again.

Whether it’s long

upwards pan shots

that work their

way over a woman’s

scantily-clad

body, less-subtle

shots of cleavage,

or downward shots

of women in their

underwear, they’re

rather common.

Feminist Viewpoints – Satire

In Sucker Punch however, there are virtually none – the film tending

to favour close-up reaction shots of the female characters despite

the risqué costuming and themes of the film.

Feminist Viewpoints – Satire

Feminist Viewpoints – Strong Female Characters

In cinema and TV, there is

a common trope called the

‘Strong Female Character’

or 'Faux Action Girl’

which, just as a basic

term, means a female

character whom is

perfectly capable of

handling herself or

certain situations; but is

never given the

opportunity to, rendering

her effectively useless

but also giving writers a

perfect scapegoat when

addressed about issues of

feminism.

Sucker Punch

has none of

this. Though

the characters

are arguably

not as fleshed

out as they

could be; each

woman in the

film,

including

Madame Gorski,

is given an

opportunity to

add to the

plot.

Feminist Viewpoints – Strong Female Characters

In cinema and TV, there is

a common trope called the

‘Strong Female Character’

or 'Faux Action Girl’

which, just as a basic

term, means a female

character whom is

perfectly capable of

handling herself or

certain situations; but is

never given the

opportunity to, rendering

her effectively useless

but also giving writers a

perfect scapegoat when

addressed about issues of

feminism.

Conclusion

Whilst I do understand that some of the points I have

brought up may have not been completely intentional

from the filmmakers; I do genuinely think that Sucker

Punch was meant as a feminist film, or at least was

made to give voice to certain female issues and to show

certain elements of gender inequality in a negative

light.

Conclusion

Whilst I do understand that some of the points I have

brought up may have not been completely intentional

from the filmmakers; I do genuinely think that Sucker

Punch was meant as a feminist film, or at least was

made to give voice to certain female issues and to show

certain elements of gender inequality in a negative

light.

Overall I believe that Sucker Punch

is a film with a very strong

Feminist viewpoint, and that

although it has a rather bad

reputation; it is rather

misunderstood.

Thank you.