Cuties - Netflix film causes uproar and causes people to cancel accounts

[Fletch Lives]

Cuties - Netflix film causes uproar and causes people to cancel accounts

Hey guys! So I injured my arm doing home improvement projects recently, and just a couple days ago, my back......so I have been in bed watching too much news and came across some controversy regarding the Netflix tween move Cuties.

I found a Youtube video that described it as child porn. Curious to find out what all the uproar was about, I watched the movie......based on reports, I fully expected to see a young woman with no top on, but that was not the case - there is no nudity........although the movie is highly suggestive.

Others are canceling their Netflix accounts, and some are calling it child exploitation, a pedophile film, disgusting, and more.

While I agree it does exploit the teens in the movie, Hollywood has been doing this to many groups for years......teens, blacks, men, women, you name it. So I fail to see what's new about that? I just don't get the hype?

While I think it's distasteful and trashy........... it looks to me just like many other teen films I've seen over the last 35 years - and I have seen worse. Yeah, there is a lot of twerking and gyrating going on- so what? Kids have been dancing like that for years. A lot of young women even have poles for pole dancing in their homes! Heck, they complained about Elvis in the fifties! I think some of the comments I'm hearing are a little over the top.

That said, I am glad to hear so many speaking up about it (even if some comments are over-dramatic).......it's just a lame, trashy movie not worth watching in my opinion. Maybe all this backlash will help filmmakers gravitate to more positive content and real storytelling, so it could be a plus in that regard. 

What do you think about it?

[basil67]

It hasn’t been released here.   From my understanding, the writer wrote a cautionary tale about the over sexualisation of girls.  Given the outrage, I think she got her message across that it’s a bad thing, but people seem to be wanting to kill the messenger rather than consider the issues being portrayed. 

For what it’s worth, when my kids were tweens, I didn’t let them watch mainstream music videos for this very reason.  Instead, I only let them watch Indie music videos. 

I can’t see the European film scene changing to cater for American attitudes, so no, I don’t think the outrage in America will be a problem.   If anything, just like a banned book, the masses will watch it just as you did to see what all the fuss is about.   

Edited September 13, 2020 by basil67

[lana-banana]

We are in the midst of a new satanic panic, only now it's "human trafficking" and pedophilia accusations. We had people convinced that Wayfair was selling young girls in closets online, for crying out loud. Bizarre freakouts like this only make actual human trafficking that much harder to combat. These conspiracy theories are also Qanon-adjacent, which is very worrisome.

The film is about how young girls, in their desire to be seen as grown-ups, do overly sexual and suggestive things that they don't fully understand. Is this somehow a topic that's never been done before? I doubt it. So far as I can tell, the only thing that's legitimately kinda objectionable was Netflix's original marketing for the film, which depicted the girls in dance costumes. And now Ted Cruz wants DOJ to investigate the filmmakers for distributing child pornography?! It is beyond hypocritical and outrageous for Americans to be up in arms about it. In the US, we've had disturbingly sexualized child beauty pageants for years. We've even had reality TV shows about these pageants and dance competitions, with even younger girls wearing provocative clothes. The fact that people are acting like this is scandalous or even pornographic shows how phony and preposterous the whole thing is. 

[homecoming]

For me, I struggle with the constant links and references to twerking as an overtly sexually suggestive practice (which it isn't) - and the placement of it in this film only serves to perpetuate that notion. The hypersexualistion of black women has led to that narrative and yeah, this film and its controversy isn't helping. 

Regarding the film - which I haven't seen - as mentioned above, seems to be actually ABOUT the sexualisation of young girls in pageants/contests... from looking at what angry people are saying on Twitter etc, there's a lot of personal projections going on, I think. 

[basil67]

I don't have any trouble at all seeing twerking as an overtly sexual practice.   Sure, there are more erotic moves which can be done, but I reckon a good twerk is certainly suggestive.     

Edited September 13, 2020 by basil67

[Ruby Slippers]

The clips I've seen are concerning and nauseating. I read that a pre-teen girl's breast(s) are shown. It does seem to cross over into child porn, according to American law. 

[basil67]

26 minutes ago, Ruby Slippers said:

 I read that a pre-teen girl's breast(s) are shown.

The OP had heard the same thing, but said it wasn't the case.

[Libby1]

I read the wiki entry for the film and then watched the trailer.  I think it's a film I'd have loved when I was 11...which was a long, long time ago.  My friends and I were all really into the whole disco thing.  The clothes and the dances etc.  I don't think we thought of ourselves as sexual though.  It's just that a lot of 11 year old girls love to dance, and I suppose learning choreographed routines is part of being in and bonding with a group.  The story outline sounds interesting and probably relevant for a lot of girls.  Especially immigrant girls who feel caught between traditional culture and wanting to make friends and fit in.  Twerking is a very overtly sexual style of dancing but a) a lot of prominent female singers do it, and their young fans are bound to mimic that - and b) from the sound of things, the central point of the film is that this girl is caught in conflict between traditional culture and the sexualised culture she's been exposed to in her new life - and struggling to understand unwritten rules and boundaries about it all.  It sounds as though critics who call it porn are missing the point

Edited September 14, 2020 by Libby1

[lana-banana]

If you aren't the kind of person who would watch a movie about children and growing up anyway, there's a very thoughtful and comprehensive review of the movie posted here. Even the headline tells you how much the coverage of the movie has been distorted: "Director Maïmouna Doucouré Asks Questions of Assimilation, Sexualization in the Familiar But Engrossing ‘Cuties’". 

[Veronica73]

On 9/13/2020 at 12:59 AM, Fletch Lives said:

That said, I am glad to hear so many speaking up about it (even if some comments are over-dramatic).......it's just a lame, trashy movie not worth watching in my opinion. Maybe all this backlash will help filmmakers gravitate to more positive content and real storytelling, so it could be a plus in that regard. 

What do you think about it?

I just got done watching it. I think you missed the point. I don’t think it was trashy whatsoever. It absolutely was real storytelling. And it is shining a light on our culture. And how confusing it can be with all the conflicting messages girls receive while growing up. And that’s not even getting into the conflict of cultures. I found it to be positive in the end, when she leaves behind the traditional garb, leaves behind the dance garb, and goes outside and jumps rope and is happy.

[basil67]

56 minutes ago, Veronica73 said:

 I found it to be positive in the end, when she leaves behind the traditional garb, leaves behind the dance garb, and goes outside and jumps rope and is happy.

Much better than the ending of Grease - succumb to peer pressure, change who you are and get the bad boy.

[Fletch Lives]

^  ^ ^ ^ that is true, it does end in a positive note.

On 9/13/2020 at 12:45 PM, lana-banana said:

We are in the midst of a new satanic panic, only now it's "human trafficking" and pedophilia accusations. We had people convinced that Wayfair was selling young girls in closets online, for crying out loud. Bizarre freakouts like this only make actual human trafficking that much harder to combat. These conspiracy theories are also Qanon-adjacent, which is very worrisome.

The film is about how young girls, in their desire to be seen as grown-ups, do overly sexual and suggestive things that they don't fully understand. Is this somehow a topic that's never been done before? I doubt it. So far as I can tell, the only thing that's legitimately kinda objectionable was Netflix's original marketing for the film, which depicted the girls in dance costumes. And now Ted Cruz wants DOJ to investigate the filmmakers for distributing child pornography?! It is beyond hypocritical and outrageous for Americans to be up in arms about it. In the US, we've had disturbingly sexualized child beauty pageants for years. We've even had reality TV shows about these pageants and dance competitions, with even younger girls wearing provocative clothes. The fact that people are acting like this is scandalous or even pornographic shows how phony and preposterous the whole thing is. 

 - great post. Yes, I think a lot of the controversy about this film is just more what I call the "men bad, women good" mindset so prevalent in our society today.

[homecoming]

On 9/14/2020 at 12:13 PM, Libby1 said:

Twerking is a very overtly sexual style of dancing

That's because of the way it has been marketed in recent years. Its origins are cultural and familial, in the same way that belly dancing is. It's been sexualised and isn't about sex. 

'Twerk It: Deconstructing Racial and Gendered Implications of Black Women's Bodies throughRepresentations of Twerking' by Niamba Baskerville (free online through a quick Google search) is a good piece on this subject. 

Edited September 19, 2020 by a LoveShack.org Moderator
Added link to source

[elaine567]

Just now, homecoming said:

That's because of the way it has been marketed in recent years. Its origins are cultural and familial, in the same way that belly dancing is. It's been sexualised and isn't about sex. 

Twerking is highly sexually suggestive, what else is it, if it isn't that?

As for belly dancing...

[schlumpy]

3 hours ago, elaine567 said:

Twerking is highly sexually suggestive, what else is it, if it isn't that?

As for belly dancing...

If it quacks like a duck........

[basil67]

3 hours ago, elaine567 said:

Twerking is highly sexually suggestive, what else is it, if it isn't that?

As for belly dancing...

As a former belly dancer....the most beautiful dancers aren't sexually suggestive.   The crass ones can be though....it's all in the delivery.

Edited September 15, 2020 by basil67

[Veronica73]

15 hours ago, Fletch Lives said:

^  ^ ^ ^ that is true, it does end in a positive note.

 - great post. Yes, I think a lot of the controversy about this film is just more what I call the "men bad, women good" mindset so prevalent in our society today.

Could you explain this more? This is obviously a movie centered on the experience of women/girls. But I didn’t see where men were portrayed badly. I mean, I guess the main character’s dad could be seen that way. But would you blame a girl (or a wife) for being upset that he was taking a second wife? And this does happen in some cultures. I don’t think the guys in the laser tag place were portrayed that badly-maybe one of them was lecherous. There was a male teacher who wasn’t portrayed badly at all as far as I’m concerned (he was trying to break up a fight between two of the girls). I’m not trying to be an ass, but I really am wondering what you are seeing. Also, and I didn’t research this thoroughly, but it seemed to me that people were complaining about the young girls being exploited. It didn’t have anything to do with men being bad.

[GorillaTheater]

I have read what the director wrote was her reason for making the movie and I can even see where she's coming from. But I can't get past the idea of fighting the sexualizing of children by sexualizing them. A bridge too far for me.

[Ruby Slippers]

^ Agree. If there's anywhere we should err on the side of caution, it's the protection of children from abuse.

[elaine567]

4 minutes ago, GorillaTheater said:

But I can't get past the idea of fighting the sexualizing of children by sexualizing them.

Exactly

[Wiseman2]

On 9/13/2020 at 1:59 AM, Fletch Lives said:

controversy regarding the Netflix tween move Cuties.

Netflix wants your business Fletch. Everyone knows controversy, sex and hype sells.

[Shining One]

I've learned from other forums that this movie has drawn in some of the darker denizens of the internet. People are clipping parts of the movie and uploading it to porn sharing sites and there are individuals actively working to get their hands on the hundreds of audition videos sent in for the movie. I hope everyone involved in the process practiced good information security.

[Allupinnit]

I find myself to be pretty liberal on most things but this movie was atrocious.  The camera angles did NOT have to be zoomed in on an 11-year-old's humping ass and crotch to get the director's message across.  

[Veronica73]

I think they chose those camera angles because those are the camera angles that are shown in videos all over the place. The children were imitating them. It wouldn’t have had the same effect if they zoomed out. It’s supposed to be disturbing because this culture is the culture these girls are imitating. They see it all over the place all the time. And in this day and age they don’t alway have the guidance to navigate that.

Seriously....you people are looking at it from the view of consumers of porn. Not from the view of a girl growing up in a confusing society. Maybe take at least a few minutes to consider that. If you can’t see the point of this movie....besides sexualizing children....you are VERY likely part of the problem. And I’m not going to apologize for that. It is absolutely true.

[Veronica73]

You’d rather protect our culture and call this film child pornography, than criticize our culture that these children grow up in and are exposed to every f***ing day.