With
Silkwood we noted a marked transformation of the woman's film in a modern incarnation that reflects the presence of women in the workplace. The women in these films, such as
Norma Rae and
Erin Brockovich, in addition to being shown balancing family and work, have a cause they seek to accomplish over the course of the film (better working conditions or a legal suit). Unlike Jan Morrow's work in interior design, in
Pillow Talk, Karen is an ordinary factory worker (even if at a uranium processing plant).
In
Silkwood Dolly provides the necessary feminine company to complement Karen's relationship with Drew. We noted how the women make the decisions in Jezebel. Here that's not the case, but Dolly and Karen's friendship provides a more reliable emotional core to the uncertainty of Karen's romance.
After going home, I found myself recalling the scene on the porch swing with Karen and Dolly. I agree that their relationship balanced the "uncertainty" between Karen and Drew. Cher did a fantastic job as Dolly. On the porch swing, the audience can easily see Dolly's own emotional grief. I think she was a key player in the film, although her personality seemed low-key. How funny to find more than one scene in the kitchen with a lesbian, an independent mother away from her children, and a guy. A guy hangin out thinkin about that auto shop he's going to open up. And all of it under the lesbian's roof. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI think one of the most important thing about the relationship of these three, Karen, Dolly and Drew, was that they were all equal. The women did not defer to the man, and even though Karen was the main character and tried to be the dominant room mate, she was not. Neither Dolly nor Drew necessarily deferred to Karen. Karen cleaned and Drew cooked. Perhaps a statement of the changes taking place in women's roles in general.
ReplyDeleteI'd agree with your view of the trio here, though I see them shifting from the equal positions you've described to a familial one with Drew and Karen sometimes playing parents to Dolly's child, especially Karen of course, who comforts Dolly on the porch swing, singing to her in almost lullaby fashion.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with the familial role. Karen and Drew would go back and forth and almost bicker with each other like a married couple over small things while they would sometimes treat Dolly like a child they were looking after. This can be seen when Karen gets upset with Dolly after she had just cleaned and also when her and Drew are somewhat interested/curious about Dolly's relationship and wanting to make sure everything in general was okay with her at this points.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for the film to play up the relationship with Dolly and Karen, after Drew left, but it never really did. You see a bond between them, while on the porch, but they never go much further than that. Especially with the way the others at the plant seemed in on the balance of the "threesome" living together from the start.
ReplyDeleteThe photograph above is such a great depiction of the main character as a whole. She is the woman who is neglected but takes charge when she needs to. This scene being in the beginning makes the audience see her as a leader, and makes us proud to see a woman in the working world, then we slowly see her flaws and people are her being disrespectful of her. Such an interesting combination of views of her.
ReplyDeleteAlso to add to the above-made points, her role as a leading women does not come with an Ivy League degree or anything of the like. The scenen in particular when she is reading to Dolly the effects of radiation, it is clear that she is a self-taught woman which, in turn, makes her accomplishments even greater.
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