Women were meant to be beautiful or sexy in the films I was raised on. Even if a girl was unattractive to start; fate, a girlfriend or a guy wanting to win a bet would step in and fix her up. I found my introduction to the beauty in the ugly at the National Gallery of Art with their still lives featuring decaying fruits and flowers. Things didn’t have to be pretty to be beautiful.
Two films have brought me back to this idea, Everything, Everywhere, All-at-once and Lou. The first is an absurdist film that scrambles reality. It’s message about the beauty of ordinary life emerges from the experience of all the other options. I find myself returning to the feeling I had when the mother and daughter reconcile. It is a very naughty film because it samples everything, so if that is going to bother you don’t watch it. If you can hang with naughtiness, you will be well rewarded with a new perspective on your life. It’s an ugly movie, kind of the antithesis to Life is Beautiful, but it gets to the same point. I love it.
Lou is a Netflix film, and Lou is never going to be beautiful or sexy. She’s a strong, masculinized woman who never really needed the girl thing. She was a mother because it had been useful. She knew her skill set and she puts it to use. Lou does all the things that Clint Eastwood would do with no apology for her gender. She saves the day because she is so tough. You forgive her for not knowing what to do with her son until fate leaves her only one option. Her love is rugged and no less real for that.
These are ugly, beautiful, women’s movies.
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