Recently I read a blog entry about what makes a film a "woman's film" ( a more polite way to get into this subject than my title.) , and whether this was a means to attract a certain audience. Mavra Stark,in her inimitable fashion, discussed this as well as other factors regarding the film "Mamma Mia" Here is my response which was delayed by the frenetic holidays: This past summer (while at the National Now Conference) a friend and I went to see "Mamma Mia." I have not seen the Broadway Show, however, I purchased the soundtrack because I like ABBA, and I related directly to the song about the young daughter leaving the house- as a child with a schoolbag, and later to live with a young lover while attempting to find out who her own father could be. So yes, you might call it a "women's movie" so what? just because it made lots of money, as do many films with a "Hollywood" budget, Most of my friends as well as my husband are not the typical movie-goers either, so we cannot really understand why this is a "women's film" Then, given those variables, men wouldn't like "South Pacific" or the King and I, and "Moulin Rouge" and "Chicago" or anything romantic and optimistic . Well, I guess dough can sometimes help those who need the publicity, but then with the money available, one can interview such stars as Meryl Streep and put her photo on a site and interpret her comments as feminist. If there had been a bad financial turnaround this picture would still have received marginal publicity. "and that ain't sad" the plight of the single mother who felt she had to marry a rich man in order to have fun and live freely as does her daughter.... "ain't that sad"? Ah," money money money" usually is a major theme in many films even musicals! "Cabaret" "Call me Madam" . and, let's face it.... it is usually the MAN who is in charge of the money and that "IS sad" So perhaps the publicity and this interview with The Bagger ( who is that?) could begin an interesting feminist paper for a student to write. Years ago I did that with Italian Films. The purse-strings control was and still is very different in each society or country or state. It shouldn't keep us from attending and enjoying certain films- neither should the man who sees a "women's" film or "chick flick " (ugh) be made to feel embarrassed.
