The Fifth Element, a 1997 Sony Pictures film is written and directed by Luc Besson. Though it is set in the future, 2263 to be exact, America is far from having made gains in refuting patriarchy. By examining the characters, this film can be interpreted as operating under, and verifying, the dominant male (also white/heterosexual) ideologically structured system we exist in today. This film is reminiscent of 40's and 50's noir in that it makes political statements about women, operating in an overtly anti-feminist way.
The central female character, Leeloo, is coded as being important because of her "sexual power," much like noir women. However, the shots, dialogue, costumes, acting, and story remind the spectator that she is restricted and marginalized in society. From the very first shot of her, Leeloo is the voyeuristic fantasy of the male spectator and male characters. She is literally on display, lying naked in a glass case, in the first shot we see of her. The narration of......
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Approximate Word Count: 2019
Approximate Pages: 8 (260 words per double-spaced page) |