What is Dorothee's purpose here -- does her existence trigger a change in values for Cleo?
I loved this exchange:
"You don't mind posing?"
"No, why?"
"I'd feel so exposed, afraid people would find a fault."
"Nonsense. My body makes me happy, not proud."
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6 comments:
It's very French that their discussion about nudity centers on vanity, not morality (as it might have in an American movie made at that time).
The fact that Dorothee drives (that awesome car!) is also a surprise to Cleo. I think D. is just an example of a woman who takes her life into her own hands, who takes off her clothes if she wants to, who gets behind the wheel (although, still a novice, she had trouble driving in high gear, unlike the expert female cab driver, whose "daring" to be a cabbie was such a topic of disussion.)
Maybe D. played a role a little like the soldier: helping Cleo to see that life is really pretty straightforward and "doable" and fun when we shed some of our self-imposed complications.
I didn’t think that Dorothee was presented as a feminist since she didn’t seem to be a critic at all. Instead she seems to be very well grounded and at peace with herself and the world around her. She’s a sensible type who, as Kc notes, avoids excessive complications.
Yes, I should have said she brought a feminist perspective rather than be a feminist herself. Dorothee seemed like a wonderful free spirit in a supportive relationship.
She was supposed to be the "failure" of the two -- the one who hadn't found commercial success -- but she appeared to be an independent and fearless woman with a healthy, well-adjusted relationship. She was a relevant stop in Cleo's assessment of her own kind of "success."
I didn't quite understand this:
"I'd feel so exposed, afraid people would find a fault."
"Nonsense. My body makes me happy, not proud."
Am I missing something, or is this a non sequitur? Was it supposed to be?
She was happy and self-sufficient while Cleo was miserable and dependent.
Was the filmmaker trying to say anything about "success?"
I do think she added to the feminist perspective of the film. The film kept touching on feminism. The cab driver was a great example of it. Perhaps even less successful, but even more fulfilled and self-sufficient?
Ben wrote: "Am I missing something, or is this a non sequitur?"
I don't think so. Being happy with your body is different than being proud of it -- pride would make her vulnerable to age, scarring, or in the context of their conversation, criticism from others.
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