SEBR NY

This may sound really harsh but I disagree so far with what reviewers believe the director was trying to do or what this movie was about. Here is my perspective: 1) The director shows us Sophie's body and her unapologetic openness and sensuality early and often so that the viewer can gather up all their prejudices and beliefs about a woman who looks and acts like her. Then she shows us a cousin, Naima, who doesn't judge her at all, from beginning to end, even though her cousin "has changed". Instead Naima shows her kindness, protects her and stands by her no matter what. Maybe the cousin senses that she needs some protection because of her beauty and underlying vulnerability. Among other things, the director wants us to understand that a woman who looks like Sophie and/or has made Sophie's choices is still deserving and worthy of everything including respect and love. 1a) The director also shows us Sophie's body so that we, the viewers, can all get over it and get used to it. It's a body and it's sex and it's a part of life. The director tries to demystify all of this in Sophie's life, in my opinion, not depict "porn". 2) The director shows the pettiness that sometimes accompanies the fabulously rich. Sophie and Naima are guests of Andres at an Italian home/property/island of a very wealthy older (though she probably could have been younger and acted the same way) woman. This woman proceeds to openly target and insult Sophie out of nowhere...because she is young (she asks how old she is) and beautiful and young and beautiful makes you a target more often than not. She comments on her surgery to suggest that she's better than her because that looks insecurity was running deep with her. *Side note: This may be a cliche about older women. 3) The pettiness of the fabulously rich also includes Andres, the yacht owner. He is offended (as well as surprised) at how Sophie handled the wealthy woman and so decides to treat her badly as a punishment...after one more night with her that he couldn't resist. The viewer sees him in a fetal position after it's all over, implying that he is childish as well as petty even though he really should be the higher minded, enlightened one, given his wealth, exposure to education and the world. 4) In contrast, we see two working class girl cousins who show each other love and companionship, support and protection as Sophie also protects Naima and tries to teach her how to handle herself in the world as a young beautiful woman herself. It's beautiful. We see them as fearless as we see the wealthy in the movie as cowardly and full of empty philosophies about life and contradictions (buying the beautiful object). 5) My only fault with Sophie is that she knew so much about the subtleties of how to conduct herself in the world (eat before you go out, don't say too much or draw attention to yourself at dinner), she's well read and speaks several languages including Italian but didn't know that she shouldn't insult the wealthy woman of the house in her own house and expect everyone to be okay with it or not even think about what she had done. Maybe she got too comfortable with Andres and dropped her guard. Who knows? 5a) My other only fault with Sophie was her reaction to what happened. It seemed like her reaction was against her philosophy on life. You can watch the movie to see what I mean. 6) I left out the relationship between Naima and her male friend as depicting what forgiveness and loyalty look like as well, no matter what. I would love to see if anyone else pulled things from the movie I didn't! Fin