MovieChat Forums > Pretty Persuasion (2006) Discussion > Political Metaphors? *spoilers*

Political Metaphors? *spoilers*


Not sure if I am completely imagining it, but did anyone else see a correlation between the storyline of this film and the invasion of Iraq?

The main character Kimberly (G. Bush), is a ruthless sociopath who is content to devastate innocent people for the purpose of furthering her agenda. She represents white social and economic dominance.

Her drama teacher, Mr Anderson, represents Saddam Hussein -- a man who is certainly nefarious in some ways (eg: the way he threatens Randa, and his fantasies about his underage students), but is not guilty of the actual crime that Kimberly has accused him of.

Kimberly's best friend Brittany quite simply represents Britain; she is not as powerful as Kimberly, but has similar desires.

They "befriend" Randa who -- if my metaphor is correct -- represents the Iraqi people. She looks up to Kimberly, who promises her a better future, free from the influence of Mr Anderson. When their plan to depose their teacher does not go according to plan, this culminates in the suicide of Randa (a metaphor for civil war?).

Journalist Emily Klein is the American public. At first, she believes that Kimberly has honourable intentions. But by the time she discovers that Kimberly is untrustworthy, it is too late to withdraw her support.

Would like to know if other people think I'm reading too much into this, LOL.

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Ive just finished watching this film and you have put a completely different level to it! Excellent points.
Re. the journalist...its amazing the brainwashing power the media has on the people...still trying to paint Kimberly as heroine, even though we know better.

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There's definitely satiric intent on the part of the filmmakers in the way they portrayed the journalist. But that has nothing to do with the OP's post (indeed, it's contradictory).

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