Cuties director Maimouna Doucoure has gone on the record to defend her controversial movie, Cuties. The French film, which is currently steaming on Netflix, has gotten plenty of criticism these last few weeks for portraying what looks to be the hyper sexualization of girls.
However, Doucoure said that the indie film was actually meant to spark social commentary on how young girls are treated, both in their personal lives, and how they are portrayed on social media. Here’s what you need to know.
Netflix: Cuties Directory Defends Controversial Netflix Film
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Doucoure made her comments during a panel at the Toronto Film Festival this week. She argues that the film is supposed to be more of a wake up call than pedophilic voyeurism, as many critics have called it.
“It’s because I saw so many things and so many issues around me lived by young girls, that I decided to make this film and sound an alarm and say we need to protect our children,” Doucoure explained.
She also argued, “It’s bold, it’s feminist, but it’s so important and necessary to create debate and try to find solutions, for me as an artist, for politicians and parents. It’s a real issue.”
The film follows an 11-year-old girl named Amy, played by Fathia Youssouf, who joins a group of dancers named “the cuties.” The pre-teen “grows aware of her burgeoning feminity – upsetting her mother and her values in the process,” according to a synoposis for the movie.
However, many shocked social media users deemed the poster “revealing” and claimed it was guilty of “explicitly sexualizing” the girls, who reportedly portray 11-year-olds in the film.
A spokesman for Netflix recently told Fox News: “We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film, which premiered at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”
For now, let us know what you think in the comments section below. In the meantime, don’t forget to check back right here for all the latest news, updates and spoilers on your favorite daytime television shows including ‘The Young and the Restless’, ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of Our Lives’.
For any other soap opera and entertainment news, please visit Daily Soap Dish. For more royal and celeb baby news, come back to Celeb Baby Laundry.
