Ancient Greece was a Patriarchal society[1], and focused most authority and power in the male. Patriarchy is defined in the dictionary as “a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it”. Ingrained into society from the start, I believe that it is a cycle that is difficult to get out of. With modern films coming out, it seems as though the Greeks are challenging these rules. In the short film, Flickering Souls Set Alight, a woman is taking care of her sick husband while dealing with ongoing support of her daughter. The man rarely even moves in this film, but it is apparent the power dynamic of their relationship. In a patriarchal society, it is seen as the man’s job to provide for the family, which is apparent even in this film. For example, the daughter gets money from her father even when he is bed ridden and cannot move or understand what she is doing. The idea that the man is the head of the household is so ingrained in the society that even when he physically is doing nothing, he is still ‘providing’ for his family. This dynamic is immediately shut down at the end when the women shuts off the power of the household. I believe this is a symbol for shutting off the patriarchy and taking control over her own life. Visually, this is shocking for an audience to see. However, she is making the bold move to protect her family and do what is right for her. In that sense, she is straying away from the typical dynamic in a Greek household.
Another film in which we see this power hierarchy is in Pause. In Pause, we see the husband’s authority over his family. He states, “Only I know what it’s like to work hard under the sun all day so that my wife and daughter can have a good life”, trying to prove his masculinity. It seems as though is his only honor to be the one protecting his family. Pause rejects this notion by making this dynamic the woman fighting to be her own individual. This is important to publish in this modern society because women must know that they have a voice. For women, this is frustrating to watch a relationship of such a power dynamic as this. It is one thing to read it on paper, but when you see it, it makes you realize that it is unaccpetable, and that this exact situation happens all the time. It not only inspires modern women but leads them to believe that they can make a change in their own lives. Comments are closed.
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