MovieChat Forums > Malèna (2001) Discussion > This makes me depressed at how women wer...

This makes me depressed at how women were abused throughout history...

posted 11 years ago by LightChild7
8 replies | jump to latest

Not sure if this story is based off something. I'm sure there were cases like this throughout history. My first viewing was very tough and hard to swallow all that was happening to Malena. I hated the movie cause of that but forced myself to finish it to see how it would end and realized that it was in fact very good. Its just such a tragic story of how women have been taken advantage of throughout history by men and the fact that there is not much they can do about it. I mean what would you have done in Malena's shoes to survive? Do you think she could have done anything to prevent selling her innocence and body to gross and terrible men? My mom even told me that there was an aunt in my family ( I'm Jewish ) that was constantly raped when taken to the concentration camps to be the Nazi's personal prostitute. I mean these are unimaginable things for a woman and sometimes it seems like suicide may be better. I'm sure a lot of women commit suicide after being forced to live that kind of life. I'm just sensitive and I feel for Malena and all women being taken advantage of and treated this way. This is the reason I wanted to stop watching and hate the film, cause it was just almost too much for me. I know women are protected pretty good here in the US but I'm sure there are other countries like Iran or whatever where women are treated as men want to treat them and must do whatever told as disturbing as it may be for them. Its just really messed up. God forbid if they are attractive like Melena. This is what I saw when I first saw this film. I couldn't fathom why someone would classify this as a comedy. I think you have to be morbid to classify this film as that even though it was pretty over the top in the beginning. Thoughts?

[–] Lin301 11 years ago

I (as a man) had the same feeling; I totally lost faith in humanity during that scene where she got beaten up and those scenes were she had to sell her body were also heartwrenching. I was angry at all those pathetic and jealous women, but also at the men for putting Malena on such a pedestal and not acknowledging her as a human being, and of course for not helping her when she got attacked. Sad thing is it still happens everywhere everyday, refering to men that put every beautiful women on a pedestal, worship her, and then condemn her for not living up to the god-like expectations they set for her.

[–] sarizonana 11 years ago

It's a really sad film and even more because the other woman instead of understanding her and giving her some support, they judged and hatted her just because she was beautiful and she had no power.

She was a very lonely person and didn't know what to do when her husband disappeared.

I think the comedy part was on how Rennato had such a crush on her and admired her beauty but in the way the way man saw her and it was funny how he saw her even in his dreams.

This kid what age us the comic relief.

[–] lornamd-1 10 years ago

Women aren't looked after that well in the US. You still get slut shaming and persecution such as the recent cases of girls committing suicide, rape victims being blamed, the prevalence of domestic violence and stalking and the number of crimes against sex workers. There are cases like Steubenville and the Big Dan's case where nobody steps in to help despite there being witnessed around. It's better than other countries, but still not that great.

[–] latin_buddy 10 years ago

And still are.

[–] firstwinsgop-1 9 years ago

The most awful treatment Malena recieves is at the hands of other women. If women could somehow live in a world where only men existed, they'd be fine (at least in the enlightened West). But it is the existence of other women that does them in.

[–] Lillithowl 9 years ago

That's ridiculous! Even in this movie she is abused and exploited terribly by men. As has happened throughout history. Neither gender is made up of angels and movies like this highlight that fact. Especially during wartime which brings out the worst in almost everyone.

[–] aios-dum 9 years ago

men are cowards and women are envious, when it comes to such cases as the one in the film. also, men will definitely take advantage, sometimes rape, because they feel they have the right to do so.
it's sad when women don't stand up for each other, but a world made only of men would definitely not solve the problem.

[–] aios-dum 9 years ago

I'm sorry for your family and for you. I also felt very bad watching the movie.
But i don't jump the bandwagon to point fingers at muslim countries, because I live in Europe (Romania) and I know it's not good here either.
There's a lot of prejudice and, especially in rural areas, were communities are closed (like it's the case in the movie too), gossip and sexist mentality thrive, as mechanisms for keeping the community balanced and the people "in line", that is, according to the patriarch rules inherited from the past.
Not just the villages, but in the cities and in mass-media there's a lot of sexism; slut shaming is considered normal in the public discourse and that's the first step to invite abuse in, in my opinion. and there are unfortunate examples too of abused girls, it makes you hateful