There are a lot of female-centric movies coming up in the cine industry. The focus of the aforementioned films is domestic violence, or more specifically intimate partner violence.
When it comes to Darlings, the main character takes help from her mother to teach him a lesson. The most likable part is when the main lead narrates the story of a frog and a scorpion at the end. The scorpion asks the frog for a piggyback ride across the river, but the frog has trust issues. Eventually, the scorpion stays true to its nature and stings the frog.
Ammu revolves around a traditional family where domestic violence is considered to be normal. The main lead is married to an inspector who pretends to be against domestic violence. His true nature and intentions were exposed within the four walls. She seeks help from a murderer to set a trap for the abuser.
Though both movies enlighten on the issue faced by married women, the protagonist seeks support from others. I am not quite sure about getting assistance from others in real life. Yes, I understand; it’s a film.
JJJJH was quite different from the above and was realistic in some parts. The film starts with her childhood, when her parents appeared to be liberal but were actually a normalized patriarchal, conservative middle-class family. Being brought up in a family where her brother gets all the attention, she falls in love with a professor in college who fakes feminism to gain credibility. The story begins when she is married to a person who runs a poultry business. Most of the female characters in this movie (be it mother, MIL, or SIL) normalize intimate violence. Having realized that there is no one to rescue, including her parents, she learns self-defense.
Most of the women would have related to many parts of this story. It would be much better if the writer gave more importance to her thoughts and her agony, along with the male lead, who is more concerned about his bruised ego than getting beat up. The movie also brings out how the male lead relatives tame the heroine by suggesting the idea of impregnation. When she struggles to find work after moving away from her family, the value of education is emphasized. It’s hard to bring about a change when the partner (male or female) normalizes the intimate violence.
This kind of situation reminds me of a conversation between Tae oh and In kyu from the world of the married. It goes as
You want to ruin her and make sure that she doesn't go anywhere. ...... You probably want to destroy her and make her admit that you're the only man in her life.
Will it bring a change in the minds of victims and abusers after watching movies/series based on domestic violence? Or will it be just a film that entertains people for hours?
Cheers!
PS: Link for Darlings, JJJJH and Ammu
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