In a video interview for Netflix, French-Senegalese director Maïmouna Doucouré said that she was inspired to make the film after being a bit shocked when she came across a dance recital for young girls that seemed to sexualized them, and then began researching social media and the pressures on young girls today, the process of which has led to the film Mignonnes, or Cuties. She said, “I believe that cinema, and art in general, can change the world. We are able to see the oppression of women in other cultures. But my question is, Isn’t the objectification of a woman’s body that we often see in our Western culture not another kind of oppression?” Cuties seems to be taking up that question, and analyzing how the potentially hyper-sexualized environment of social media can sometimes be unsafe for kids.
What is Cuties?
Netflix describes the plot as such: “Eleven-Year-Old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew.” Indeed, the trailer centers on Amy (Fathia Youssouf) as she struggles with her family’s expectations of her as she approaches her teenage years, and the joy she seems to get from finding a friend group that likes to dance, get attention online and shoplift.
Why is there a controversy?
The biggest reason for the controversy is the dissonance between the trailer, which does place a big focus on scenes of the girls learning how to dance somewhat provocatively, and the movie itself, which is criticizing the sexualization that people might see in the trailer. Cuties seems to be an example of a film maligned by its marketing.
What is the movie really about?
Ultimately, Cuties seems to be a commentary on how difficult it can be for kids to navigate growing up in the landscape of social media, particularly since apps like Instagram and TikTok can feel hyper-sexualized and can sometimes communicate unhealthy and confusing messages. However, the film probably isn’t exploiting kids.
