Thelma & Louise

By Marita Sturken

Book Overview

Thelma & Louise, directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri, sparked a remarkable public discussion about feminism, violence, and the representation of women in cinema on its release in 1991. Subject to media vilification for its apparent justification of armed robbery and manslaughter, it was a huge hit with audiences composed largely but not exclusively of women who cheered the fugitive central characters played by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. Marita Sturken examines Thelma & Louise as one of those rare films that encapsulates the politics of its time. She discusses the film's reworking of the outlaw genre, its reversal of gender roles, and its engagement with the complex relationship of women, guns adn the law. The insights of director Scott, screenwriter Khouri as well as Davis and Sarandon are deployed in an analysis of Thelma & Louise and the controversies it sparked. This is a compelling study of a landmark in 1990s American cinema. In her foreword to this new edition, Sturken looks back on the film's reception at the time of its release, and considers its continuing resonances and topicality in the age of #MeToo.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1838719288
• ISBN13: 9781838719289
• Release Date: May 2020
• Publisher: British Film Institute
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.3" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Thelma & Louise Analysis

Sturken's "Thelma & Louise" is an excellent addition to BFI's Modern Classics book series. This analysis of the popular and conroversial film covers several important topics including: the hype and various reactions/criticisms of the film upon its theatrical release, how the film fits into feminist film theory, whether the violence in Thelma & Louise is worse than other films that were NOT criticized for their violence, what genre the film belongs in, Ridley Scott's directorial vision for the film and various motifs, how the characters change and why, what options these women have in a male dominated world, and what the ending signifies. Sturken includes quotes from several articles and interviews.