Maleficent

I chose the movie “Maleficent” for the Bechdel Test. The movie starts out with Maleficent as a gentle, kind, and pure hearted fairy. Maleficent is the protector of her home, the forest kingdom. After being betrayed by her lover, her heart turns stone cold and she is out to seek revenge. She puts a curse on the king, her lover’s, newborn child. As the child, Princess Aurora, grows up, Maleficent becomes fond of her. Maleficent later realizes that Princess Aurora may be the key to solving peace between the two lands.

I believe that the movie did pass the test. The main women that were present in most scenes were Maleficent and Aurora. They both talked about the nature of the lands, the good, and the evil. This film is a feminist film. Maleficent represents power in women. She is beautiful and kind, but is strong and powerful. She is the protector of the land and everyone looks up to her. Maleficent represents a good female leader. The fact that she is going up against King Stephen, also makes this a feminist film. In the beginning of the film, Stephen drugged Maleficent and violated her by stealing her wings. According to multiple reviews, this was a metaphor for rape. So, basically, the scene referenced to rape culture. In the end Maleficent recovered and gain her powers and self conscience back.

To be honest, I was not surprised that this film would pass the test. I mean, you have two women characters as the protagonists and a man as the antagonist. This film is obviously a feminist film. Maleficent epitomizes women who have been taken advantage of by men. She shows us a dark side of her, but yet, we don’t hate her because we understand her story. Maleficent represents women as strong leaders with power.