Gaze in Shonali Bose’s Margarita with a Straw and Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise

"Gaze in Shonali Bose's Margarita with a Straw and Ridley Scott's Thelma and Louise"

Overview

In this analysis, we examine the ways in which Margarita with a Straw (2014) and Thelma and Louise (1991) offer unique portrayals of female empowerment, self-discovery, and autonomy. Both films feature protagonists who experience transformative journeys, moving from positions of vulnerability and dependence to empowerment, independence, and agency. Despite the stark cultural and contextual differences between the films, with Margarita with a Straw exploring issues of disability and Thelma and Louise focusing on women’s liberation, both films share a common theme: the journey of the female protagonist as one of self-empowerment, sexual freedom, and resistance to patriarchal control. These films offer critiques of traditional gender roles, sexuality, and societal expectations, emphasizing how women can take control of their own narratives.

Shared Characteristics of the Protagonists

The characters of Laila in Margarita with a Straw and Thelma in Thelma and Louise are depicted as women who undergo significant personal transformations that challenge societal norms and conventions.

• Laila is a young woman with cerebral palsy, studying in New York, who begins the film in a sheltered world where her disability is central to how others perceive her. However, Laila gradually rejects the notion that her disability should define her identity. Through her exploration of her sexuality and emotional independence, Laila’s journey becomes one of self-realization and sexual autonomy, as she learns to navigate her desires in a world that often limits her possibilities.

• Thelma, on the other hand, begins the film as a meek, submissive housewife who is dominated by her overbearing husband. After a spontaneous road trip with her friend Louise, Thelma’s life is radically altered, as she moves from being a passive, silenced character to a woman who actively shapes her own fate. The journey transforms her into an assertive individual who defies the restrictive boundaries of societal and gender expectations. Both characters experience profound shifts, transitioning from powerlessness to control, and from being objectified to asserting their agency.

In both films, the protagonists are portrayed as Everywomen, whose personal struggles transcend specific circumstances, enabling audiences to empathize with their desires for autonomy, agency, and control over their own lives.

The Male Gaze and Its Reinterpretation

Both films can be analyzed through the feminist lens of the male gaze, a term popularized by Laura Mulvey in her 1975 essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema." In traditional Hollywood cinema, the male gaze objectifies women, positioning them as passive objects of desire for male characters and, by extension, the male spectators. However, both Thelma and Louise and Margarita with a Straw subvert this gaze, reconfiguring the viewing experience to place women’s perspectives at the forefront.

• In Thelma and Louise, the male gaze is continuously challenged. The film’s cinematography and narrative structure often align with the protagonists' perspective, framing the story through their eyes rather than through the male gaze. Thelma and Louise are not passive victims but active agents in their journey. The film undermines the traditional gaze of male characters by presenting the protagonists as complex, autonomous individuals. In contrast to the typical roles of women in action films, Thelma and Louise are not merely objects to be admired; instead, they control the narrative and redefine what it means to be a woman in a world dominated by men. Their dramatic and symbolic final leap off the cliff at the film's climax is an assertion of their freedom and defiance, an act that rejects submission to patriarchal forces.

• In Margarita with a Straw, Laila’s gaze and sexual agency are central to the narrative. The film subverts traditional representations of disability by focusing on Laila’s sexuality and desires rather than her disability. Laila’s journey to self-empowerment includes embracing her sexual autonomy, something that is rarely represented in films involving disabled characters. Laila’s exploration of her body and desires is portrayed with sensitivity, avoiding the objectification that is often associated with female characters in cinema. The camera, through its focus on Laila’s body and experiences, encourages the audience to view her as a subject with her own desires, instead of merely an object of pity or sexual desire. This shift is important in challenging the traditional gaze and offers a more nuanced and empowering portrayal of a disabled woman’s sexuality.

Female Bonding as an Act of Freedom

A central theme in both films is female bonding. Both Margarita with a Straw and Thelma and Louise position female relationships as a source of strength, resistance, and empowerment. In both narratives, the bond between the female protagonists forms the basis for their transformation and resistance to societal norms.

• In Thelma and Louise, the relationship between the two women is built on mutual support and a shared desire for freedom from patriarchal oppression. As they embark on their journey, they reject the traditional roles assigned to women and instead embrace a dynamic partnership based on equality and shared agency. This bond allows them to face the challenges that come with their escape from the law and societal norms.

• In Margarita with a Straw, Laila’s connection with her friends, particularly her romance with a fellow woman, is portrayed as a form of rebellion against the societal and cultural forces that seek to define her. Through this relationship, Laila is able to express her full identity, not just as a person with a disability, but as a woman with her own desires, dreams, and autonomy. The film emphasizes how these relationships offer a space for emotional and sexual freedom, allowing Laila to assert her individuality and challenge the expectations imposed on her by both society and her family.

A New Way of Looking

Both films introduce a new way of looking—one that empowers the protagonists and critiques traditional cinematic representations.

• In Thelma and Louise, the camera often frames the protagonists in ways that encourage the audience to view the world through their eyes. The vast, open landscapes are often captured from their perspective, presenting the journey as one of liberation. This visual strategy aligns the audience with the protagonists’ perspective, encouraging them to identify with their freedom rather than sympathize with their victimhood.

• In Margarita with a Straw, the camera similarly positions the audience to empathize with Laila’s journey. The use of close-ups, particularly in scenes of intimacy, allows the audience to connect with Laila’s experiences of pleasure, desire, and self-realization. The film resists the typical portrayal of disabled characters as either inspirational or tragic, instead presenting Laila as a complex, fully realized subject. The camera’s focus on her moments of joy and self-discovery invites the audience to see Laila’s sexuality as valid and important, just as much as any non-disabled character’s.

Conclusion

Both Thelma and Louise and Margarita with a Straw challenge traditional cinematic narratives, particularly regarding the representation of women and their roles within films. These films provide a critique of the male gaze and patriarchal ideology by reconfiguring the way women are represented on screen. The protagonists in both films embark on journeys that are marked by personal growth, sexual autonomy, and resistance to societal expectations. Through their stories, the films provide a feminist perspective that critiques traditional gender roles, while also offering empowering portrayals of women who redefine their identities in ways that challenge the status quo.

The central themes of female empowerment, sexual freedom, and the subversion of patriarchal control are presented through compelling narratives that allow the audience to view the world through the protagonists’ eyes. In both Margarita with a Straw and Thelma and Louise, the female gaze emerges as a powerful alternative to the male gaze, giving women the opportunity to define their own experiences and identities. These films contribute to a broader discussion of gender, power, and identity, urging viewers to reconsider traditional cinematic representations of women and to embrace more inclusive, empowering portrayals.