Classics: The Formidable Females of Disney By Lauren Ennis

Since the 1937 premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Walt Disney Studios has become synonymous with excellence in family entertainment. The studio has faced criticism in recent years, however, regarding its depiction of female characters with modern critics accusing the studio of promoting outdated and sexist values. While many of the studio’s earlier efforts reflect the traditional values of the eras in which they were released, the studio has also created numerous heroines who are every bit as complex, clever, and capable as their male counterparts. This week, I’ll be shining the spotlight on three Disney ladies who personify what it means to fight like a girl.

I ain't afraid of no huns

Mulan: Joan of Arc had the Lord to guide her, she was a sister who really cooked, and then there’s Mulan. In the 1998 film Mulan, the title heroine defies both her family and the whole of society when she joins in China’s fight against the invading Huns. At the film’s start she resigns herself to the restrictive role society has assigned to her and prepares to enter an arranged marriage. Despite her best efforts, however, her unconventional personality shines through, leading the local matchmaker to deem her ‘unmarriageable’. She soon finds good use for her tomboyish lack of proprietary, however, when the emperor orders the conscription of one man from each household. To save her elderly father from the perils of battle she disguises herself as a man and enlists in his place. She then overcomes numerous physical and emotional challenges while shouldering the additional burden of concealing her identity, eventually becoming one of the best soldiers in her regiment. Just as her mission nears success, however, she faces ostracism once again when she is wounded in battle and her true identity is revealed. Despite being dishonorably discharged, she refuses to abandon her comrades and re-joins her regiment just in time to save China.

While Mulan’s deeds on the battlefield are the stuff of legend, it is her selflessness, humbleness, and resilience that make her an ideal role model. Throughout the film she dedicates herself to helping others both on and off the battlefield. It is this self-sacrifice that first prompts her to enlist and later leads her to return to her regiment even after her comrades reject her. As a result, her actions display heroism in its truest sense as she repeatedly risks her reputation and safety not for any personal glory or recognition, but to ensure the safety of her family and country. While she regularly faces physical dangers, it is her emotional resilience that holds greater resonance. Throughout the film she faces criticism from those around her, but rather than crumble she uses this criticism to motivate herself to succeed. Throughout her journey she also retains a sense of humbleness as she allows neither her fame nor her success to cloud her judgment. For a girl worth fighting alongside hop into the saddle with Mulan.

That slight come hither stare, it's witchcraft...

Esmeralda: When she first appears at the Festival of Fools Esmeralda is described as “the finest girl in France” and after one viewing of The Hunchback of Notre Dame you won’t have to wonder why. While she may not be a historic heroine or princess like many other Disney heroines, she is easily one of the most original and complex protagonists in all of Disney. At the film’s start she is struggling to earn a living as a dancer on the streets of Paris. When a group of soldiers harass her and accuse her of stealing the money that she legally earned, she refuses to tolerate either their accusations or racist taunts and defends herself despite the consequences. She later displays even more courage when she defends complete stranger Quasimodo against the wrath of the local mob for no reason other than because it is the right thing to do. She doesn’t stop at freeing Quasimodo from his attackers, however, as she then goes on to denounce both the mob for their abusive behavior and corrupt judge Claude Frollo for failing to hold them accountable. She continues to show compassion towards Quasimodo when she sets out to befriend him and teaches him to believe in himself when others shun him for his appearance. When her defiance inspires a fascination in Frollo that spirals into lustful obsession she repeatedly rejects his lecherous advances despite the power and influence that he possesses and threatens to use against her. Even when confronted with the terrible choice of offering herself to Frollo or facing execution she refuses to compromise her own values and submit to him. Throughout the film she is derided for her race, her profession, and her non-conformity, and yet she never loses sight of the fact that there are still others less fortunate then her. In a particularly poignant moment the script goes so far as to show that even in her prayers she puts others first when she says, “I ask for nothing, I can get by. But I know so many less lucky than I”. While Frollo may describe her as a witch sent by the devil himself, Esmeralda consistently displays a moral courage, selflessness, and sense of justice that are nothing short of angelic. For a character living in the 15^th century she possesses all the intelligence and independence of the most modern of women. From the moment that she whirls onto the screen Esmeralda dances to the beat of her own tambourine, providing an example that we could all aspire to.

Real women read

Belle: She’s a beauty but a funny girl that Belle, and the Beast and viewers alike love her all the more for it. Many consider Beauty and the Beast’s bookish heroine to be Disney’s first modern princess. Unlike her predecessors, Belle longs not for a prince, but instead to find her own place in the world. While the other girls in her small town are ready to settle down and start a family she remains determined to find something more beyond the confines of her ‘provincial life’. As a result, while the other girls in town are charmed by local ladies’ man Gaston, Belle rejects his repeated proposals without hesitation. She also admirably stays true to herself by pursuing the intellectual interests that make her a subject of constant gossip and speculation. Even as she maintains her independence, however, she still dedicates herself to helping others, especially her father. When the townspeople routinely mock Maurice for his forward thinking and accuse him of suffering from mental illness Belle remains firmly by her father’s side. After he disappears on his way to a nearby inventor’s fair she springs into action without hesitation and sets out alone to find him. Later, when she learns that her father is being held captive at the Beast’s castle she makes the ultimate sacrifice by offering to take Maurice’s place as the Beast’s prisoner. Even when confronted with the daunting reality of her new life as a prisoner in an enchanted castle she refuses to fall into despair and instead makes the best of her situation by forming bonds with the household staff. Despite her confined status, she also continues to assert herself in her relationship with the Beast  by insisting that he treat her with respect and learn to control his temper. Even in her relationship with the Beast, however, she displays loyalty and selflessness. This is first shown when she stays at the castle to make sure that the Beast receives medical care after he is injured, when she easily could have used his injury to her advantage and escaped. Belle proves her loyalty and kindness once again when she pleads with the Beast to free her in order to tend to her ailing father, but returns just in time to help the Beast in his battle against Gaston. Over the course of her fantastic adventure she overcomes overwhelming obstacles with an intelligence and ferocity that rivals those of any Disney hero. Whether she’s facing local gossip, enchanted spells, or villainous schemes Belle maintains a fundamental grace, selflessness, and optimism that make her a true beauty both inside and out.

Classics: A Review of The Death of Stalin By Lauren Ennis

History and Hollywood are overflowing with tales of tyrants who dominated through brutality, repression, and manipulation. What is less widely discussed is what happens when a tyrant’s reign of terror is finally brought to an end. The 2018 dark satire The Death of Stalin explores the outrageous ways that the most elite members of the Soviet government sought to obtain and maintain control in the wake of dictator Joseph Stalin’s sudden death in 1953. At once a slapstick spoof of the corrupting influence of politics and an indictment of the all too real horrors that ran rampant in the Soviet Union, The Death of Stalin is a film that is certain to slay you.

Is anyone going to acknowledge the red elephant in the room?!

The story begins with a darkly ironic glimpse into the daily absurdities of life in the Soviet Union as a Moscow orchestra scrambles to recreate a concert performance in order to appease Stalin’s whim for a recording. Through this opening depiction of the hysterical levels of fear that the mere mention of Stalin inspires in the musicians the film perfectly captures the Orwellian nightmare that was everyday life under Stalin’s rule. The film then shifts its focus from the populace that the dictator brutalized into submission to the political cronies and henchmen who enabled his reign to endure. Following a brief introduction to the sycophancy and underhandedness that dominated Stalin’s inner circle, the film portrays the dictator’s sudden death from a stroke. The film then quickly spirals into a madcap race against time as the most elite figures in the Soviet Union face off in a power struggle that will define Russian politics for decades to come.

Made in the tradition of such biting political comedies as Ninotchka and The Great Dictator, The Death of Stalin provides a wry look at politics at their most poisonous. From the moment that Stalin is found unconscious in a puddle of his own urine the film morphs into something akin to ‘Survivor: Soviet Moscow’ as the dictator’s closest allies make and break alliances in accordance with the shifting political climate. All the while the wit remains razor sharp and the insults fly faster than a firing squad’s bullets as the USSR’s most elite bumble, bicker, and double-cross their way to the top. The shenanigans that ensue are comic in their absurdity, even as they highlight the brutality, paranoia, and hysteria that dominate life under repressive regimes. The film wisely maintains its darkly comic focus upon the hapless schemers jockeying to take Stalin’s place, rather than the ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire. As a result, the film functions as a scathing indictment of the lunacy that was Stalinism rather than a tasteless dismissal of its millions of victims. Although the central players are historical figures, the power plays that they ruthlessly engage in remain as startlingly relevant today as they were during the height of the Cold War.

Stay tuned to see who will be voted off the island next

The expert performances of the film’s international cast deftly keep the film balanced between slapstick spoof and historical drama. Steve Buscemi nearly steals the film in his slick turn as Nikita Krushchev, which plays like a Cold War twist on his popular role of Boardwalk Empire’s politician turned gangster Nucky Thompson. Jeffrey Tambor is hilariously inept as the ever one step behind Georgy Malenkov. Jason Isaacs lends roguish charm and plenty of swagger to his role as World War II hero and Red Army chief of staff General Zhukov. Simon Russell Beale manages to be both comic and chilling in his portrayal of notorious head of the secret police Lavrenti Beria. Rupert Friend is wonderfully outrageous in his performance as Stalin’s drunken buffoon son, Vasily. Andrea Riseborough aptly portrays Stalin’s sheltered daughter, Svetlana with an appropriate combination of snobbishness and naïveté.

A historical tale that could easily be ripped from today’s headlines, The Death of Stalin is simultaneously one of the most comic and tragic films of the year. Through its wickedly witty script the film sheds light onto the comically absurd events that transpired after Stalin’s death, while also reminding audiences of the millions who suffered under the rule of Stalin and his cohorts. The ensemble cast turn in expert performances that will have even the most casual students of history laughing out loud. For a film that will have you dying with laughter don’t miss The Death of Stalin.

It's funny because it's mostly true!

Classics: A Review of The Halcyon By Lauren Ennis

Dark days and bright nights beckon at London’s exclusive Halcyon hotel circa 1940. With the blitz raging outside while personal and political passions threaten to erupt inside the scene in ITV’s The Halcyon is set for drama. A Casablanca-esque atmosphere combined with a modern sensibility makes the series an enticing cocktail of the best of classic and contemporary. One visit with the series’ colorful cast of staff and guests is guaranteed to leave viewers wanting a return trip to the intrigue, opulence, danger, and romance that await in The Halcyon.

Downton, prepare to eat your heart out

The story begins as the threat of war ominously hangs over London even as life in the Halcyon’s hallways carries on. The problems of the outside world enter the hotel, however, with the arrival of the hotel’s owner Lord Hamilton and his fascist leaning mistress. While the potential for political and sexual scandal threatens the hotel’s reputation, the entirety of the establishment is thrown into upheaval when Lord Hamilton is found dead of a sudden heart attack. The hotel is then left in the hands of his scheming wife, Lady Hamilton, and two well-meaning but untrained sons, setting the stage for a power struggle between Lady Hamilton and the hotel’s general manager, Richard Garland. Meanwhile the guests and staff alike find themselves embroiled in both personal and professional crises as the Nazi bombs draw ever closer.

Although the series may tell a familiar war-time tale of love and glory it does so with just enough of a modern twist to keep audiences on the edge of their seats while still remaining true to the period in which it is set. One way that the script achieves this balance is by including elements that, while historically accurate, would have been censored by the media of the era. For example, the series approaches such adult topics as sexual assault, infidelity, and pre-marital sex with a frankness that, while true to life, would never have passed the restrictions of the Hollywood Hays Code. Similarly the taboo relationships between both interracial couple Betsy and Sonny and homosexual couple Toby and Adil are portrayed with a modern sensitivity, even as both couples confront the prejudice and intolerance of the period. The script also aptly portrays the class and gender struggles of the era and the ways in which World War II ushered in many changes to class and gender norms. Even in the midst of its most modern elements, however, the series never loses sight of such timeless themes as love, family, sacrifice, and patriotism. It is through its focus upon such universal themes that the series connects viewers to its characters and the distant world that they inhabit. Through its nuanced characterizations and multifaceted plot The Halycon is a series that is vintage but never old fashioned, with a modern sensibility that doesn’t sacrifice historical accuracy.

Let's party like its 1939

The stellar work of the series’ ensemble cast brings 1940’s London to vibrant life. Kara Tointon possesses all the sensual charm of Rita Hayworth as sassy nightclub singer Betsy Day. Sope Dirisu conveys equal parts debonair charm and quiet strength in his role as bandleader Sonny Sullivan. Olivia Williams portrays the by turns ruthlessly cold and achingly vulnerable Lady Hamilton with expert skill. Edward Bluemel aptly portrays the insecurity and frustration of the Hamilton’s neglected son, Toby. Akshay Kumar is endlessly endearing in his performance as conflicted bartender Adil. Matt Ryan possesses a world weariness and cynical charm worthy of Humphrey Bogart as reporter Joe O’Hara. Jamie Blackley makes for an admirable hero as the Hamilton’s favored son, ace flyer Freddie. Hermione Corfield expertly captures the warmth, wit, and resilience of receptionist Emma Garland. Steven Mackintosh nearly steals the series in his charismatic turn as the hotel’s enigmatic manager, Richard Garland.

With all the smooth charm of a black and white classic and the grit of a modern drama The Halcyon is far more than just another period piece. Through its array of colorful and fascinating characters and layered plot the series treats viewers to a swinging time that will leave hem begging for more. After checking into one episode of The Halcyon you won’t want to check out.