It's a Wonderful Life
Abby

Review by Abby Pro

It's a Wonderful Life

1946
★★½

Watched 06 Dec 2022

Is this the right time to point out that capitalism is an inherently flawed and inhumane system that breeds inequality? And no amount of well wishes or money or 'looking on the bright side' will ever fix this?

Whilst I appreciate this film's seasonal charm and encouragement to value family and friends more than financial success, it undermines itself by equating the love of George's community with money at the end. I also personally hate soppy, sentimental, melodramatic films like this and it's hard to ignore the pervasive misogyny and sexism of films from this era. George's behaviour towards Mary is not endearing, it's concerning.

I also want to say that this film does not tell a 'universal' story of love and happiness. It is most definitely a straight, white, male, patriarchal, religious fantasy that perpetuates the myth of America as a place of meritocracy, community, and 'traditional' family values.


Tldr; Progressive for its time maybe but still stuck in a patriarchal capitalist rut.

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