A Feminist perspective on the film 'Sucker Punch' - BA Animation NUA - Bronwen (Bonnie) Scott

1. A Feminist Perspective

2. Introduction
When ‘Sucker Punch’
was first released, it
was given a very poor
reception.
Often being called
‘sexist’ and ‘your
typical male fantasy
story’, it is usually
assumed and dismissed
to be so (even by
people who have never
seen it!)

3. Introduction
My interpretation
of this film was
very different.
When ‘Sucker Punch’
was first released, it
was given a very poor
reception.
Underneath the
initial ‘layer’
of male-gaze-dominated
Often being called
‘sexist’ and imagery
‘your
typical was, what male I fantasy
felt,
story’, a very it is strong
usually
assumed and dismissed
feminist
viewpoint.
to be so (even by
people who have never
seen it!)

4. Feminism
noun
the advocacy of women's rights on
the ground of the equality of the
sexes. Google Definition
In Film:
As of 2014, only 30.9% of speaking characters in films are women.
The average ratio of men to women in film is 2.25 : 1
Girls and women in film are twice as likely as boys and men to be
shown in suggestive clothing or naked.
In 2011, of 100 of the most popular films of the year, only 11
had female protagonists.
New York Film Academy.
Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
Colin Stokes - ‘How Movies Teach Manhood’.

5. Feminism
noun
the advocacy of women's rights on
the ground of the equality of the
sexes.

6. ‘Sucker Punch’, in comparison to a lot of
modern mainstream cinema:
Has a female protagonist and four other
female primary characters, as well as a
few other important female roles.
Passes the Bechdel Test.
Addresses issues regarding gender inequality in an implied format.

7. Plot
‘Sucker Punch’ is a story
about a young girl
nicknamed ‘Baby Doll’ who
is institutionalized after
accidentally killing her
little sister whilst
trying to protect her from
their abusive Stepfather.
Her Stepfather, who is
actually after an
inheritance left to Baby
Doll by her deceased
mother, plans to have her
killed whilst in the
mental facility with the
help of a corrupt Orderly
named ‘Blue’.
Whilst in the
institution, Baby
Doll retreats to an
alternative reality
as a coping method.
In this fantasy, she
envisions a plan
which will help her
and several of her
fellow inmates
(Sweet Pea, Rocket,
Blondie and Amber)
escape from the
mental facility.

8. Plot
‘Sucker Punch’ is a story
about a young girl
nicknamed ‘Baby Doll’ who
is institutionalized after
accidentally killing her
little sister whilst
trying to protect her from
their abusive Stepfather.
Her Stepfather, who is
actually after an
inheritance left to Baby
Doll by her deceased
mother, plans to have her
killed whilst in the
mental facility with the
help of a corrupt Orderly
named ‘Blue’.

9. Feminist Viewpoints – Female Bonds and ‘Sisterhood’
An important
aspect of ‘Sucker
Punch’ is the
female
relationships
involved in it.
Throughout the
film, the bond of
the five female
leads is very
important to the
story – and is
treated as such.

10. Feminist Viewpoints – Female Bonds and ‘Sisterhood’

11. Feminist Viewpoints – Satire
Although this point is rather
debateable, it could be argued
that some of Sucker Punch’s
extreme uses of costume and
sexual themes is somewhat
satirical.
Satire is generally seen
societally as a comedic form;
and because of that, when
something tries to be
satirical without being funny,
it tends to fall short of the
point it’s trying to make.

12. Feminist Viewpoints – Satire
In many films,
gratuitous shots
of the female form
are used time and
time again.
Whether it’s long
upwards pan shots
that work their
way over a woman’s
scantily-clad
body, less-subtle
shots of cleavage,
or downward shots
of women in their
underwear, they’re
rather common.

13. Feminist Viewpoints – Satire
In Sucker Punch however, there are virtually none – the film tending
to favour close-up reaction shots of the female characters despite
the risqué costuming and themes of the film.

14. Feminist Viewpoints – Satire

15. Feminist Viewpoints – Strong Female Characters
In cinema and TV, there is
a common trope called the
‘Strong Female Character’
Sucker Punch
has none of
this. Though
the characters
are arguably
not as fleshed
or 'Faux Action Girl’
which, just as a basic
term, means a female
character whom is
out as they
perfectly capable of
handling herself or
could be; each
woman in the
certain situations; but is
film,
never given the
including
opportunity to, rendering
Madame Gorski,
her effectively useless
is given an
but also giving writers a
opportunity to
perfect scapegoat when
add to the
addressed about issues of
plot.
feminism.

16. Feminist Viewpoints – Strong Female Characters
In cinema and TV, there is
a common trope called the
‘Strong Female Character’
or 'Faux Action Girl’
which, just as a basic
term, means a female
character whom is
perfectly capable of
handling herself or
certain situations; but is
never given the
opportunity to, rendering
her effectively useless
but also giving writers a
perfect scapegoat when
addressed about issues of
feminism.

17. Conclusion
Whilst I do understand that some of the points I have
brought up may have not been completely intentional
from the filmmakers; I do genuinely think that Sucker
Punch was meant as a feminist film, or at least was
made to give voice to certain female issues and to show
certain elements of gender inequality in a negative
light.

18. Conclusion
Whilst I do understand that some of the points I have
brought up may have not been completely intentional
from the filmmakers; I do genuinely think that Sucker
Punch was meant as a feminist film, or at least was
made to give voice to certain female issues and to show
certain elements of gender inequality in a negative
light.
Overall I believe that Sucker Punch
is a film with a very strong
Feminist viewpoint, and that
although it has a rather bad
reputation; it is rather
misunderstood.

19. Thank you.