Last night I watched the Quentin Tarantino film Jackie Brown for the first time. This is noteworthy because I can now honestly say that I have seen every film written and directed by the great QT. However, it is also relevant to this blog because Quentin Tarantino is not only one of the best directors of our time, but one of the most successful writers of films with female leads.
From Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, to Jackie Brown in Jackie Brown, to Uma Thurman as The Bride in Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2, Quentin Tarantino’s movies frequently feature women in strong leading roles. Especially in the case of The Bride in Kill Bill, it is clear that Quentin Tarantino is making a statement about gender.
Perhaps most notably, Kill Bill makes a very clear statement against rape. Throughout the film, The Bride can be seen brutally and violently exacting her revenge upon the perpetrators of this crime making it very clear that this behavior will not be tolerated. In this fast-paced action film, it is easy to accept immediate death as the proper punishment for this heinous crime.
Additionally, within the hidden society of assassins in Kill Bill it is clear that women are in charge. As the leader of the Yakuza crime syndicate, O-Ren Ishii surrounds herself with “an all female entourage.” In this way, as a movie, Kill Bill challenges the notion that organized crime requires male leadership and thereby affirms the independence of women. Furthermore,
“When all the fighting starts happening and the blood spills in earnest, it is the women who are formidable foes. They are the ones with personality. The men are expendable clones.”
In this way, it is the women, in Kill Bill, who represent serious threats in the fighting scenes. This is a phenomenon so rare that it is almost unique to this movie. As I discussed in an earlier blog post, even movies which do feature powerful female characters such as the marvel superhero movies, often prioritize male characters over female characters. However, in Kill Bill, this effect is reversed so that women really do hold the power and command the authority.
As significant as these elements of feminism are, it is interesting to note that, “It only takes a minute to get used to it and accept this as the new order of things.” In this way, watching Kill Bill doesn’t feel unrealistic or exaggerated. Contrastingly, it seems very natural. By simply creating the opportunity for women to be powerful and formidable characters, Quentin Tarantino’s ingenious screenplay allows for women to showcase their full potential as both leaders and warriors. While traditional activists for gender equality are not usually arguing for a woman’s right to be a samurai, I believe that Tarantino’s method of showcasing women in this arena is an effective way to challenge traditional gender norms and suggest a new way of thinking.
Uma Thurman to Bring ‘Pulp Fiction’ Back to Life Through Auction
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