Friday is the (Inspirational) Movie Night: The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

#inspirationalmovies

You can, of course, analyze the classical piece that The Witches of Eastwick (1987, George Miller) is as a tale of seduction and revenge. But that's by far to easy... there's so much nuance in this + the perfect ending.

As I've claimed before, love interest, romance and passionate affairs can be - and often are, especially in cinema - the vehicles of empowerment and emancipation. This narrative can be rather predictable and slightly overused, but, hey, if the authors know how to show that it's not the man that has to be central to one's life in order to transform but an relationship offering an alternative mode of doing things that has a capacity to change people. Can be friendships. And can be romance. See examples here, here, here among many more. 
Yes, it is a heteropatriarchal way of constructing female emancipation. But better this than none, provided that the protagonists know what they are doing!

And The Witches... offer much more than just emancipation via Jack Nicholson.
You get the friendship that's prior to scandal and that remains afterwards. You get sexual emancipation based in pleasure and indulgence in bodies. You get creativity and playfulness. And you get the healthy realization that some things have gone too far and have to be gotten rid of.
It's a John Updike novel after all.

Friday is the (Inspirational) Movie Night: Frozen (2013)

#inspirationalmovies

OK, so this is long time overdue. I was sure that this one has already be shared... but, no. So, here you have the icy (think of a sorbet!) treat for every season: Disney's Frozen (2013, Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee)!

So, why Frozen is better then the classical Disney princess stuff (think Cinderella)?
Two complex female protagonists. Some superpowers that need to be explored and dominated. The true love that breaks all the spells is not what you were taught it was. And *possible spoiler* the handsome prince is not the solution for all ills, quite the contrary.  

Why is Frozen as good as any other Disney's classical (think The Lion King)?
It's fun for all ages, has great music, celebrates friendship, loyalty, and family.

Why is Frozen equally un-perfect as all the princess-centered child culture is?
While the plot is quite solidly empowering, the way the movie is drawn and was marketed reveals the same bias that female characters suffer in both animated and other entertainment areas. Read more here, here, here, here, here, and here.

With that in mind (and trying to ignore that somehow the heroines are so much smaller than the heroes and so barbie-like shaped), relax, get cozy and finally watch Frozen. Or watch it again.
Then get the soundtrack and sing along to Idina Menzel at moments when you have to let it go.