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Of the many unspoken privileges found in human society, a handful of them are the most toxic and overly abused. One of them is “Male Privilege”: the unofficial and often ignored notion that men are immune to consequences for their actions and are given more opportunities for advancement in life for no adequate reason. Much like “White Privilege,” it is an uncomfortable aspect of the human condition that many of us would rather not admit exists. We would all prefer to believe that underlining biases don’t exist in many aspects of society. Sadly, they do, and we all suffer the consequences one way or another. As a feminist, a human being, and as a man, I find "Male Privilege" to be one of the ugliest downsides of human society, and I genuinely wish for its demise.
Incidentally, this wish is shared and beautifully showcased in today's film, Promising Young Woman, a brand new take on the classic revenge thriller that succeeds in raising awareness and demanding action on both sides of the argument against “Male Privilege.” It delivers a chilling narrative and a satisfying message with incredible conviction, noticeable passion, and just enough humor to keep you engaged all throughout its two-hour runtime. This is a must-watch for generations to come.
The story follows Cassie (Carey Mulligan), a medical school dropout working at a coffee shop. Every week, she gets dressed up, goes to a club, pretends to be too drunk to stand, and waits for a “nice guy” to take her home. When the man tries to move in for a good time, Cassie snaps out of her act, lectures the man for his mistreatment of women, and “encourages” them to stop thinking of women as objects of desire. This practice was sparked by a terribly tragic event in her past when her best friend was assaulted, and her cries for help and justice were ignored by everyone, including the female principal of her school. When Cassie learns that her best friend's assailant is getting married, she takes it upon herself to make his past deeds come back to bite him in the ass in as many ways as possible. Along the way, she will give the same treatment to anyone involved in the assault or turned a blind eye when asked for help. It is a tragic yet provocative tale of trauma, justice, apathy, and the dangers of “Male Privilege.”
The movie succeeds in presenting a dark subject matter in a way that is easier to digest. It carries itself with wit and charm without forgetting about the weight of its message. Part of its clever execution is in the film's visual style: basking in an ocean of bright and pastel colors that serve as a kind of complementary contrast to the dark and uncomfortable subject matter. It’s a bubble-gum fever dream that demands your attention because it has something relevant to say. Those watching the movie would be wise to listen and learn.
There’s not much else I can say about this film without giving away too many details. I will say that there is one scene, in particular, involving a character played by Alfred Molina, that became my favorite moment in the whole film. You will see for yourself once you watch the movie, which I whole-heartedly recommend you do. I should also mention that the film has the good sense to never show the actual assault in question. Although, I would still place a trigger warning on the film anyway for safety.
While this movie may be difficult to watch at times, it is still a beautifully crafted story that raises awareness of an ugly aspect of the human condition while demanding better action betaken to abolish it entirely. This is a movie that deserves to become mandatory watching for everyone, especially for the most impressionable. Check it out.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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