I watched the movie, and in a vacuum, I can see where the more controversial scenes can be interpreted as lascivious. But in the context of the movie, it really didn't feel out of place at all. The scenes are intentionally awkward, and I think part of the film's message is to make you feel uncomfortable. It tackles several themes, actually, and has quite some depth. Really, the biggest complaint I have is the movie is rather boring.
I tried to watch some videos, but every single one is a reactionary take that uses a hammer when a chisel would be far more appropriate. Anyone come across any reviews or videos that take the issue rather seriously, but can also critique the film on its own merits?
I've only seen PayMoneyWubby's video on it, but:
Seems to me like they could have made the movie and still got their point across without all the shots zoomed in on the crotches and asses, no? Like, couldn't they have still had the same dance numbers but maybe like zoom out the camera a bit?
Does the film critique the hypersexualization of young children? Cause that wasn't really covered in Wubby's video and I don't care enough to watch it myself. Like, was there a point to the movie? Save for generating controversy?
I take it you haven't watched the film. There's panning shots, but those close-ups and zooms are frame-grab thumbnails created to form an impression on you. Anyone could do the same with video of a gymnastics exhibition.
And of course PayMoneyWubby wouldn't cover the nuance; he's straight-up on that cryptofascist grift. I remember when he first hit the reddit front page with a video complaining about kids twerking on tik tok. It was a 20-min. reaction video montage. Like, he literally "exposed" 20 mins of dancing kids with him shaking his head and feigning outrage.
I disagree.
I watched the movie yesterday and I did find the close ups on just body parts where their faces weren’t even in frame to be excessive.
I felt like the wide shots got the point across that the girls were trying to be sexy but they’re just children.
The dance number on the steps was the part I found the most gratuitous and the final dance number was the other one I thought went too far.
I think my issue is that there have been studies that show men view women as a collection of body parts while they view men as a whole. So when I see children shot the same way we shoot women, zoomed in on just a body part like a stomach or a butt, I know that people are viewing that part sexually and detached from it being a child.
I get that she probably wanted to make the audience uncomfortable, but the result is still children’s bodies being objectified.
Overall, I still think it’s a decent movie, but I do wish the dances were filmed a little differently.
Didn't I say as much in my comment?
You also didn't answer any of my questions and instead chose to attack Wubby. I don't recall defending him at any point in my comment?
Ah sorry, have ADD and like 20 tabs open.
Yes, it does. The point of the movie was to tell a story and use contemporary culture as the vehicle.
That's some bold framing. Perhaps try to watch the movie and draw your own conclusions.
How does it do that though? I've established that I'm not going to watch the movie, hence why I'm asking you for your analysis of it. But so far all your posts here just seem to be saying "guys it's not not actually that bad, come on" without engaging in the actual points that have been raised.
I'm not trying to say "this movie IS bad and you're wrong," I'm just trying to understand why it isn't as bad as it looks.
Honestly, I can't answer that because it comes down to each individual and their own visceral reaction to the content. I watched it and went, "Yup, that's a reflection of reality." And it didn't bother me.
We're all slaves to conspicuous consumption, to a degree, and I don't think anyone would deny that our culture promotes a weird fetishization of teen sexuality. This film explores that realm and how impressionable youths feel pressure to subsume that culture in a search for relevancy. Again, check out the movie, or maybe wait for a censored version.