“Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” is legit reeealllly problematic. That barn-raisin’ number, tho.
At the end of that scene, I’m like, “Eh, I might marry one of ‘em.” But only with, like, full agency & equity on the homefront.
The ax work in the “Polecat” song is really impressive, despite the analogous treatment of women & livestock.
Everyone sing along with “Sobbin’ Women,” which is a three-part harmony advocacy of mass rape & the idea that no means yes!
Now, they’re actually, literally kidnapping women.
Okay, it’s important for the men who have kidnapped these women to keep them from screaming lest they cause an avalanche.
But then they strategically cause an avalanche by letting them scream to block off the townsmen from rescuing them.
There’s a lot going on here, & I’m confused about what it says about female power. Bc on 1 hand, we make avalanches. But also kidnapped.
And then Millie lays the smack down bc she is only redemptive part of message of this movie, & makes the dudes sleep w livestock. Poetic.
This whole “who slept in this bed? Don’t you ever think about that?” scene is actually pretty sexually enlightened. Git it, gurls.
We swerve very quickly from naughty fantasizing into a song about being a June bride, which is a pretty healthy balance, tbqh.
Uh oh, it’s spring after chaste winter enforced by righteous matriarch, Millie. Erryone is wantonly feeding piglets, cradling goats together.
Millie is BEST character in this movie, NO CONTEST, & her damn husband is at a more remote cabin whole time she’s pregnant, gives birth.
Adam, upon learning his aweaome wife has had their baby: “I might’ve known she’d have a girl.” Gideon is woke af, punches his ass.
These women have a lot of wardrobe changes for women who were kidnapped in the dead of night.
Adam, of “kidnap the gals” idea suddenly comes home, gets woke by his baby daughter, forgiven by his wife, & says they’re taking ladies home.
Ah, but it’s not so simple. Whether it’s Stockholm Syndrome or real love, the ladies do not want to leave. Probably a combo, tbh?
Again, mixed messages about female power, bc girls push back on townsmen in favor of a different form of patriarchy.
And then they all claim, I must say, hilariously, Millie’s baby is theirs to force their old menfolk to marry them to their new menfolk!
And whatever it says about me, I’m kind of happy for them? Dammit, Hollywood!
There’s another possibility. That this movie is about *two* oppressed minorities— women and gingers.
In end, Team Millie Forevah. She’s powerful, whips everyone into shape, & makes chaste, snowed-in winter on frontier seem pretty awesome.
Bless her beautiful hide, WHICH IS ALSO HUGELY PROBLEMATIC.
But that barn-raisin’ number tho. 🙌🏻
