Promising Young Woman is a 2020 film that sheds light on rape culture and the different ways it can affect women today. I was very excited to see this movie for many reasons. For starters: the cast, the director, and the conversation it produces. Let’s get into it, because there’s a lot to unpack.
The cast is stacked with amazing actors including: Carey Mulligan, Alison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton and many more. My all-time favorite comedian Bo Burnham is also in the film which made it even more intriguing. And the most important person with this film is the director. Her name iPromising Young Woman is a 2020 film that sheds light on rape culture and the different ways it can affect women today. I was very excited to see this movie for many reasons. For starters: the cast, the director, and the conversation it produces. Let’s get into it, because there’s a lot to unpack. s Emerald Fennell. Fennell took a complicated topic and presented it in a refreshing and playful way. The actors she cast helped this come to fruition by having a mix of critically acclaimed and comedic actors. This movie had to be directed by a woman for it to be accurate and Fennell did an amazing job at that.
The conversation that Promising Young Woman sparks, is that this story, excluding the theatrics, isn’t uncommon. In fact, looking at the reviews and talking to women who have also seen the film, most said they related to the story in some capacity.
I think there are two big takeaways from this movie. First, men need to be held accountable for their actions. Not just by the law, but by society. There is such an acceptance in the way that men can just degrade women and get a pat on the back for it. This movie shows the many excuses that some men still love to use to this day. She was into it, I’m a nice guy, we were just kids, boys will be boys, etc.. If you have to explain that you’re a nice guy, maybe take a step back and realize you’re not. The other men that need to be held accountable are the ones who see these things happening and don’t do anything about it. Guilty by association, honey. Be better than that.
The second takeaway is, the way society treats these women after the most horrendous acts were committed to them. Whether people do not believe their story because they want to give the men the benefit of the doubt. Or asking them what they were wearing, how much they had to drink, etc.. This discredits the pain they’ve gone through and embeds guilt and uncertainty in the victims. For just now entering the year 2021, we need to be better than that.
Overall, I love this movie. From the actors, the director Emerald Fennell, and the conversation it starts. Not to mention the ending, because boy, was that crazy! I would love to see colleges play this movie and hold a discussion after. It would be beneficial for the men to listen and learn from the women in their community.