Film Review: Beauty And The Dogs Shows #MeToo Is A Needed Movement
SYNOPSIS: When Mariam, a young Tunisian woman, is raped by police officers after leaving a party, she is propelled into a harrowing night in which she must fight for her rights even though justice lies on the side of her tormentors. Employing impressive cinematic techniques and anchored by a tour-de-force performance from newcomer Mariam Al Ferjani, Kaouther Ben Hania’s BEAUTY AND THE DOGS tells an urgent, unapologetic, and important story head-on. A rare, startling film from a female Tunisian director, it’s a striking critique on a repressive society and a forcefully feminist rallying cry.
Beauty And The Dogs is not an easy watch. As a human and woman, it scares me how vulnerable and helpless I could be physically made by someone/ another man. In this world, a strong soul is a treasure, but a strong body, especially one with a badge, can become a weapon. This is a lesson that Writer and Director Kaouther Ben Hania has shown with a film that displays the #MeToo movement is a global necessity.
One minute, Mariam (played magnetically by Mariam Al Ferjani) is partying with friends and flirting with a guy. The next she is running for her life after being raped by two cops. How she went from a “night out” to a life traumatized by the cruel raping of her body and the degradation of her soul is where Hania emotionally rips your heart. This film furthered a realization that only comes in waves; injustice is not only about the denial of your rights and humanity, but the bullying and utter diminishment of its existence in your life. It is not only that Miriam gets raped. Afterwards, she gets called a liar, chased, made fun of, beaten, denied aid, and threatened. She not only has to heal her body and soul from what has happened but what is happening.
Injustice is not an act or a moment; it truly is a system. One where acts and moments are repeated to not only bring you down, but make sure you stay down. The writing and details of this film are so poignant to what a woman goes through as a victim trying to survive. Hania’s work in Beauty And The Dogs explains why we need more women at the directorial helm, but also telling our story. As a woman Hania uses the camera to capture every physical and emotional gripe wearing Mariam down from this ordeal, of which Al Ferjani is non-stop in captivating scenes and assuring the audience’s compassion. She embodies the strength of everyday survivors of rape, and their refusal to be silenced. I, literally, wanted to step into the film, protect her, and say, “ENOUGH!”.There are times when you ask yourself is this a police station or the first stop in Hell.
Ghanem Zrelli as Youssef is a light in the film, and one that proves men protect and support women. Yet, he also gets some of the best lines to analyze. Tunisia is a country that has a torrid political history of which revolution occurred because people refused to have their rights taken from them by scoundrels dressed in uniforms and suits. He pushes Mariam to report her rape because he sincerely believes if a humiliation is accepted then people will forget why they revolted in the first place. Honestly, the film stresses me with how casually injustice is served by the very hands meant to stop it. Mariam is consistently punished for her refusal to enjoy and continued saying of “No!”to every single cops literal prods of her body and heart.
“Can a country survive without police?” the officers asks Mariam in one of their many ways of convincing her to let her raping go. The answer is no! Yet, there is a follow-up question that I feel is more important. Can a country truly thrive with corrupt cops? The answer is no. BEAUTY AND THE DOGS Opens Theatrically via Oscilloscope Laboratories on March 23rd (in NYC at Landmark 57 West)
