Nicole Hoffman

I first discovered this film in a horrible, disgusting light. So in regards to all the controversy this film has received, I took it upon myself to do some digging to see what all the fuss is about. I was appalled when I saw there was a movie released BY NETFLIX, that encouraged child pornography and pedophilia. Thinking this could not possibly be true, I looked up the film on Netflix. I wanted to see a trailer to see if there were any signs of this evil. However, I saw in the extras that there was a short video by the director, who is female by the way, with her take on why she filmed ‘Cuties’. I wanted to hear it from her first before I saw the trailer. I know on the surface level an audience can have an entirely different perspective from the artist. Her idea was a good idea. But I’m also a believer that anything can be a good idea if executed correctly. I mean who thought there could be an amazing film of a rat who can cook? (Ratatouille). Director Maïmouna Doucouré, comes from an innocent place. No I am NOT DEFENDING THE FILM. I am defending the director in this case because I doubt any of you watched this short video on the director’s intention. If you think about slaughtering this, go into extras and watch the video yourself. She is a feminist who sees that teenagers are growing up in a world now where social media is not their ally, but their worst enemy. Just when I thought I had it bad with Barbie dolls. Teenagers are exposed now more than ever to the “ideal body”and “fashion” women should have. And so now teenagers are influenced by this. Hell I see teenagers dressed like they’re in their 20’s now and it blows my mind because I didn’t dress anywhere near that in junior high. All in all, these teenagers are looking up to these adult influencers in the wrong light. They feel as if they need to sexualize themselves in order to feel accepted. This is such a big problem. And that’s the message Maïmouna Doucouré wanted to get across. However, I am extremely disappointed on how it was executed. It’s hypocritical, she wants to show that young girls shouldn’t put themselves in danger but then casts young actors to act like that. She shouldn’t have to film young girls doing what they did it’s so wrong on so many levels. I believe in the first 15 minutes of the film when Amy (the main protagonist) puts on a crop top for the first time would’ve been enough. But the director crossed a line where she shouldn’t have. And now pedophiles are targeting these young stars. I don’t think the director thought this through. I had hope after watching the director’s side of things, but the execution...cmon. There’s so many other ways to get your message across and you had to take it there? I’m sorry this is just so upsetting that a potentially good artist is now going to lose her reputation because of a poor choice