The film Promising Young Woman has resurfaced on social media feeds, and its relevance is perhaps more pressing now than ever. The movie follows Cassandra as she deals with the grief surrounding the death of her best friend, Nina, who was violated by a group of men and later took her own life after the university dismissed her complaint.
The film sheds light on the human impact of violence, showcasing the shattered lives, inescapable grief, and harm that affects everyone touched by such a despicable act. Cassie still struggles to come to terms with the reality of the situation, and her actions are a clear sign of the lasting effects of trauma.
Throughout the movie, Cassie confronts men who attempt to assault her, revealing the harsh reality of rape culture and the myth that all perpetrators are strangers. The film highlights that perpetrators often appear as normal, everyday people, making it a terrifying lived experience for women.
The casting choices in the film are deliberate, featuring men who fit the “Nice Guy” archetype, such as Adam Brody and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. These characters are shown to be complicit in Nina’s assault and subsequent victimization, demonstrating the pervasive nature of rape culture.
As Cassie continues to wrestle with the aftermath of Nina’s death, she confronts those who enabled the assault, including a defence lawyer played by Alfred Molina and the university’s dean, played by Connie Britton. Their responses, such as “benefit of the doubt” and “what would you have me do, ruin a young man’s life?”, are a familiar and infuriating script.
Read Also: Artist reflects on identity and art in Newcastle retrospective
The film’s storyline bears a striking resemblance to the Cornell 7 case, which has recently resurfaced on social media. The similarities between the two are maddening, highlighting the predictable yet impossible-to-stop pattern of violence and victim-blaming that persists in society.
In 2021, Promising Young Woman hit Australian cinemas, and it seemed like the time was right to have tough conversations about consent and violence. Around the same time, Chanel Contos made headlines for her work on consent education, including an Instagram poll that revealed a shocking number of people had been sexually assaulted by someone from an all-boys school in Sydney.
The poll’s results showed that 200 people answered yes to knowing someone or having been assaulted themselves, yet only 50 believed they knew of a perpetrator. This disparity highlights the need for continued conversation and action to address the systemic issues that enable violence.
Want more Culture? You might also like:What actually happened at National Cabinet’s meeting on violence against women?We know misogyny is a problem – so why are we still here?Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ venue Divine Playhouse has closed after being accused of “offensive trade”What is actually being done to address Australia’s domestic violence epidemic?What is Community Strong Australia? Australia’s newest political party, explained
Leave a Reply