MovieChat Forums > Nil by Mouth (1998) Discussion > Nil by Mouth a feminist film?

Nil by Mouth a feminist film?

posted 18 years ago by Hyperventilating_Neolith
14 replies | jump to latest

Okay, I haven't really had time to fully explore this interpretation, but if you consider the whole film, it seems to be the triumph of the feminine over the masculine.

In the opening scene, the male characters have much more screen time, and the females are very much backgrounded. Notice the "entertainment" is a male comic.
In the corresponding closing scene (at the same venue), the female characters are brought forward, and the male characters are backgrounded. The "entertainment" now is a female singer. The grandma also takes the stage and sings.

As I said, I haven't had the time to explore this idea, but can anyone else think of any other moments that further substantiate the theory?

"Stay back, boy. This calls for divine intervention!"

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Hyperventilating_Neolith 18 years ago

Agreed - "tribute" is a much better word.

(and thanks for replying, by the way...I was beginning to think no one cared! )

"Stay back, boy. This calls for divine intervention!"

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] an-only-twin 18 years ago

not being intentionally facetious here but why would tears be in any way a symbol of disempowerment/ weakness? ... I think, on the other hand, that when laughter is a tool given to the female characters a sense of empowerment does prevail.. what do you reckon?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] an-only-twin 18 years ago

"Hm...maybe causing people you love pain are actually worse than beeing a victim? I don`t know."

New definition of dodgy ground MissSpivey ; ) like the suicide of the comment though and know what your getting at... mainly cause i've never abused/been abused

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] aliangel212001 18 years ago

I think this is totally a feminist film - the scene where the women dance together made me weep so much - I think it is all about the strength of women - while their husbands, fathers and sons fall apart it is the women who are consistent and continue to provide for their families.

I also once saw Gary Oldman talking about his mother and sister (His sister plays the mother in the film)and how south east london families were really matriachal and without the females there would be no family life at all.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Last_Entrance 14 years ago

Yeah a definite subtext I expect.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=7917401/ - Vote History

[–] Humanophage 13 years ago

Aliangel mentions Gary Oldman's words that working class families tend to be matriarchal - that seems strongly consistent with the way intelligence distribution is usually treated: http://www.lagriffedulion.f2s.com/intelfig6.gif

Intelligence range for males is much greater than that for females, meaning that women of below average intelligence are smarter than men of below average intelligence. Women are the voice of sanity and dignity among the working class.

[–] Stirchley 13 years ago

From a female POV, I don't at all see this as a feminist movie. If it were, Val would never have married Ray in the first place and she certainly would not have returned to him after he murdered her unborn child.

[–] 13 years ago

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