Issues of feminism are definitely present in the film The Illusionist. However, it is not a standalone concept. Taking a look at any piece of art through an approach such as this, has proven to be a difficult task. While the issues of image as it pertains to women, and the idea that that image is controlled by men are present in the film, one thing I took away from the film is that culture definitely plays a huge role in the direction the film takes these issues, and how the characters react to them.
Scotland and Paris are very different culturally. The customs, traditions, and ways in which people interact with each other differ. The way women are looked at and presented are going to be different from place to place. We first meet our young main character in Scotland. As opposed to Paris and London, Scotland, in the film, appeared to be much more traditional and disconnected from the contemporary time in which the film was set which was 1959. The people seemed content to work and partake in being with family. They did not put much emphasis on the female image during the films time in Scotland. Lisa first appeared to look run down, overworked, and altogether not very feminine.
Everything changes for her when she throws her old life away by throwing her shoes into the fire and putting the pretty red ones on. That was the start.
The affect of culture shock is really, what I think, is the deciding factor in the way we should view Lisa in the film. As she makes her way through her new life, she still is working for men. Cleaning the magicians house, making him dinner, and taking care of the other male characters in the film. The image of the way woman should appear is much more focused on in Paris. Clothing in shop windows, photographs on billboards, and showgirls are all reminders for our main character of how women should look and act. I think I mentioned before that Lisa previously, had had no female influence in her life that we know of, put together with the shock of trying to fit into another culture, its no wonder she would want to fit into the mold that the film believes women should fit into.Some would view that as the film trying to lead its character in the direction without having a reason however, I would say that that would happen to anyone and does happen to everyone everyday. I guess it was also quite exciting for her to experience this new life. I think its a big theme the film tries to present. Not only does this apply to Lisa, it also applies to all of the male characters in the film. Finding your way in the world is something the film deals with and that also applies to both men and women. The images of women presented in the film would make some feminists cringe I wont try to leave out the scenes where muscular acrobatic men are repairing and creating the image of the perfect women. I also wont try to leave out the scene in which the magician sells woman's clothing in the shop window using his abilities
This film is about people trying to find success and happiness. Some of the characters fail. Both the men and the women are subject to obstacles. Lisa was on a quest to live her life. She was curious, and I feel that she went through changes due to having to deal with a different culture and having to interact to her surroundings in a new way. Ultimately it took a man to show her that she was great just the way that she was; that she didn't have to conform to the image of the perfect woman. This being shown by the man letting Lisa's hair down. Overall I feel this film treated men, women, and different cultures to the same obstacles and the same failures. Nobody came out above another.
