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Most Misogynistic Film of 2009: Deadgirl or Disgrace?

posted 14 years ago by firstwinsgop
15 replies | jump to latest

Deadgirl was certainly more graphic, but I'd have to go with Disgrace overall. It's basically the ultimate misogynic porn fantasy of the urbane white leftist male: having black men rape their wives and daughters over and over again to cleanse the "sins" of their race, and of course having the women enjoy it. Both films were vomit inducing, but at least Deadgirl didn't take itself too seriously (though it was incredibly pretentious considering the lowbrow nature of the genre).

[–] Nirhtuc 14 years ago

I don't think Disgrace is a misogynistic movie. I think it's the opposite actually- the most morally corrupt characters in the movie (David included) are all male. I interpreted it as a portrait of misogyny on the part of men's actions (i.e. the movie shows the various ways in which men abuse their power).

[–] nubbytubbybiatchesgalore 14 years ago

i agree with you. this film is, if anything, misandrist. it is a condemnation of the predatory nature and gender power imbalance in sex.

this film is very difficult to watch. but the anger and frustration you feel from the injustice of it is supposed to make you empathize with the injustice of apartheid in general, and the injustice of being a woman.

without condemning a whole country or group of people, it is nevertheless well documented that rape is very prevalent in south africa (along with the spread of aids that goes with it - i thought she was going to be HIV positive, not pregnant, as result of the rape)

this film can not be misogynistic when the only sympathetic characters in the movie are women

[–] Nirhtuc 14 years ago

Excellent post, nubbytubbybiatchesgalore!

"without condemning a whole country or group of people, it is nevertheless well documented that rape is very prevalent in south africa"

I wouldn't just limit this problem to South Africa. Isn't rape something that has been occurring everywhere, probably since the beginning of humanity? I'm sure rape is an issue everywhere where 1) Law and order are not enforced effectively, and/or 2) certain groups hold a lot of power over other groups.
I'm sure the movie is meant to portray lots of issues that are happening in South Africa, but the thing is that the movie ultimately raises many universal issues too.

[–] Unicorn-9 14 years ago

"I wouldn't just limit this problem to South Africa. Isn't rape something that has been occurring everywhere, probably since the beginning of humanity?"

South Africa has regularly led the world in reported rapes and that's probably a fraction of the actual number. According to the BBC, 25% of South African men admit to having raped at least one person:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8107039.stm

Of course that article also claims that 10% of South African men claim to have been raped by other men, so that 25+% (almost certainly more since I'm sure plenty wouldn't have admitted to it) haven't just been raping women.

So yes, I'd say South Africa has a heck of a rape problem that's much worse than most of the rest of the world.

[–] Nirhtuc 14 years ago

Interesting to know, but those are just statistics. I'm sure a lot of rape cases don't even get reported throughout the world. I'm sure a lot of countries don't even care about rape (e.g. my parents' country).

[–] rc-108 13 years ago

interesting discussion.

to me, it was interesting how Melanie felt powerless to stop the advances of her professor, but felt empowered enough to talk about it, and ended up getting the professor forced out...whereas Lucy felt powerless to stop the rape, and also powerless to prevent it from happening again, by moving away, or arming herself...Melanie at least had a little support team... Lucy felt she did not.

and if Lucy felt she was doing penance as part of the group that oppressors..
Her penance seemed wasted.

It was intereesting the professor is one of the oppressors and then with his daughter becomes the oppressed.

[–] TwistingReality 14 years ago

Disgrace is not misogynistic.

To address your question: Antichrist, without a doubt.

[–] kobong 14 years ago

Is your surname Freud?

[–] TrevorReznick 13 years ago

"Deadgirl...Disgrace overall...It's basically the ultimate misogynic porn fantasy of the urbane white leftist male: having black men rape their wives and daughters over and over again to cleanse the "sins" of their race, and of course having the women enjoy it."

WTF????

Are you on crack?

I saw both films and thought they were great.

With respect to your post, I don't understand what the frip you're talking about, and you are the one who sounds 'pretentious' and 'lowbrow.'

As you well know, the fortunes of war vary. But if you desire a good outcome, you must keep your courage intact.

[–] marbleann 13 years ago

I do understand the OP. I am not sure if I agree about it in this particular movie. But I do understand. I have a different read on the movie. I feel the crazy daughter orchestrated this whole act of so called violence along with Pettus because of her feelings of guilt and that she was stark raving mad like her father. We assume she was raped. We have no idea. Even the father was told he was not there. We assume it because of our own prejudices about the victim and the criminal and for some like the OP said their particular fantasies of black men raping white women. Do not dismiss the OP because he wrote something you do not agree with. Men love watching women get in fights with each other in movies. They pay to see mudd wrestling with women wearing tight tee shirts. It is a fantasy. So why can't you folks get out of your box and understand that other acts of violence and taboo things are fantasies too?
But remember she had not one mark on her. She took a shower before she even opened the bathroom door to get her father. Why use some chemical to burn him if the gas is all over the place and it would of done a better job . She knew he was ok. So I do not believe the movie was misogynistic, but a very clever one to test our own prejudices.

[–] filmfancy 13 years ago

"But remember she had not one mark on her. She took a shower before she even opened the bathroom door to get her father."

She didn't have a mark on her because she probably didn't fight back; she just resigned herself to getting raped. Most women would probably want to take a shower after being raped (even though they're not supposed to).

The film's main theme seems to be 'resignation.' Melanie resigns herself to having sex with her professor. Lucy resigns herself to having her animals killed and getting attacked; to having the child; to marrying Petrus. Bev resigns herself to euthanizing the stray dogs. David resigns himself to following his desires (in the first part of the film), then to his daughter's wishes.

Although the film was well-acted and well-shot, I simply did not appreciate its take on rape and capitulation.

"And all the pieces matter."

[–] timlin-4 12 years ago

Misogynistic? You're so deep in the rabbit hole you came out of the other side. Any movie where that pontificates about how men only have sex from an impulse to kill women is crazy feminist man-hating BS.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Chironomo 9 years ago

You seriously need to seek medical help.

[–] Neuronhead 9 years ago

Most Misogynistic Film of 2009

Men portrayed as predators. Women portrayed as their victims. Not misogynistic.

I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe