I cannot begin to describe the hurt and disappointment that I felt after watching this movie. I thought I was finally going to watch a film I could relate to, a film that depicted young gay teens exploring their sexuality and falling in love. Instead, this film forces the viewer to watch as April and Cat are bullied, shunned, subject to parental abuse and eventually raped in a sickening, 10-minute long 'finale'.
Although the trailers hinted at the 'dark, tragic undertones', a viewer cannot in any way be prepared for this finale scene. Aside from being completely unnecessary and adding nothing to the plot, I am at a loss for why directors insist on constantly re-making the same scenes of women being violated and abused. I had to stop watching it at this point, thoroughly shaken, and only finished the movie for this review.
I have some questions for the director/writers: 1. As this film is about gay women, I'm assuming that gay women are also the target audience; why would you think that they would want to see another movie depicting their rape and abuse? 2. If gay women were not the target audience, surely you have enough sense to realise that gay women would likely watch this film, having so few alternatives to turn to? Additionally, showing a film filled with homophobia, abuse, and a tragic ending to a straight audience only fuels and reinforces existing stereotypes about lesbian relationships.
Gay women should not be punished for the sake of your own artistic expression. Rape should not be used as plot device to heighten the film's climax. Rapists should not be shown as pitiful, apologetic, or remorseful after committing rape.
Although the trailers hinted at the 'dark, tragic undertones', a viewer cannot in any way be prepared for this finale scene. Aside from being completely unnecessary and adding nothing to the plot, I am at a loss for why directors insist on constantly re-making the same scenes of women being violated and abused. I had to stop watching it at this point, thoroughly shaken, and only finished the movie for this review.
I have some questions for the director/writers: 1. As this film is about gay women, I'm assuming that gay women are also the target audience; why would you think that they would want to see another movie depicting their rape and abuse? 2. If gay women were not the target audience, surely you have enough sense to realise that gay women would likely watch this film, having so few alternatives to turn to? Additionally, showing a film filled with homophobia, abuse, and a tragic ending to a straight audience only fuels and reinforces existing stereotypes about lesbian relationships.
Gay women should not be punished for the sake of your own artistic expression. Rape should not be used as plot device to heighten the film's climax. Rapists should not be shown as pitiful, apologetic, or remorseful after committing rape.