Tag: Reviews

‘What is a Woman?’

Directed by Justin Folk

Documentary

‘If transgenderism has reduced womanhood to its superficial characteristics, allowing anyone to don it like a Sunday hat, at least part of the reason is that our culture has spent decades divorcing sex distinctions from gender roles.’ – Leor Sapir, City Journal

I had been looking to see ‘What is a Woman‘ for a long while before I finally did. I knew of the film because I am a regular listener of the podcast hosted by the documentary’s creator, Matt Walsh. Not only had there been a thrilling buildup to the documentary’s release, there had also been robust reviews both for and against the film following its release. Writers had either been labelling the film and those involved in its creation as ‘transphobic’, ‘bigoted’, and ‘genocidal’. Or hailing ‘What is a Woman‘ as a must-watch offering of truth and tenacity.

I could hardly take my eyes of the screen throughout my viewing of the documentary. Walsh takes the viewer on a journey that is both gripping and farcical. In his critique of transgender theory and activism, Walsh’s vast range of interviewees includes doctors, psychologists, women’s march protest-goers, gender and sociology professors, university students, Maasai tribesmen, and the average thinker on the street.

Among many factors, what makes the film compelling is the manner in which some of Walsh’s interlocutors are bizarrely stumped by the clearest of questions. I opt for the word ‘clear’ intentionally. Unlike Walsh, I am reluctant to describe the questions (particularly the titular question) as merely ‘simple’. The word ‘simple’ denotes that the question is easily understood or presents no difficulty. The assertion that ‘what is a woman?’ is a ‘simple’ question is brilliantly and consistently disproved by the documentary itself. In transgender discourse, the question has in fact become complicated one.

To this end, the film is an exceptional example of ‘clarifying terms’ and ‘sharpening contradictions’. Defining words and establishing meaning is the best place to draw the battle lines in a culture war. That is why ‘What is a Woman?‘ is a film worth watching for those interested in contending for truth in the age of transgender ideology.

– Lele M

‘Us’

Directed by Jordan Peele

Horror

“Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.” – Jeremiah 11:11

Jordan Peele has done it again in this captivating 2019 American thriller. Us follows the story of Adelaide, played by Lupita Nyong’o, who first encounters a doppelganger of herself in a room of mirrors in a funhouse after wandering off on her own at a beach carnival.

Years later, a grown up Addy goes on vacation with her husband Gabriel and their two children. On vacation, the family ends up at the beach where the young Addy once wandered off from her parents. An already apprehensive Addy’s nerves are shot when her son, Jason, wanders off on his own. Although Jason returns safely, the family is visited by terror that night when their psychotic doppelgangers break into their holiday home.

Featuring contemporary hip-hop music over menacing action scenes, the direction of Us is easily one of Peele’s best offerings. The acting by the cast, which includes Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, and Tim Heidecker is another reason this film is brilliant. Jordan Peele’s unique genius keeps the viewer on the edge of her seat as the story unfolds – not through guts, gore and jump scares but through the subtilty of a riveting plot.

Us is a must see horror of a caliber rarely found in contemporary film-making.

– Lele M

‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’

Directed by Michel Gondry

Romantic science fiction.

“How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d.” – Alexander Pope, Eloisa to Abelard

Written by Charlie Kaufman, this 2004 American romance film also referred to simply as Eternal Sunshine, follows the story of Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski. Played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, Joel and Clementine are a separated couple who have erased each other from their memories.

After my first viewing of the film in 2018, I found it to be rather unusual and disorienting. The film employs a nonlinear narrative, along with elements of psychological drama and science fiction which may prove to be a jarring combination for a first-time viewer. I have recently seen the film a second time and I was blown away. Eternal Sunshine, whose title comes from a quotation from the 1717 poem by Alexander Pope, explores themes revolving the nature of memory and romantic love in a compelling sci-fi offering.

Besides the esteemed leading actors, the film boasts an illustrious cast including Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, and Tom Wilkinson.

I intend to see the film a third time soon, and in the meantime I cannot recommend it enough.

– Lele M