To this day, the best #MeToo video I have watched

Kelsie 2022-01-18 08:01:06

If only one word can be used to describe this film, I will use [true].

Following the perspective of the heroine Jane, the film records Jane's day as an assistant in an almost emotion-less way. The heroine didn't set too many lines. In the first few tens of minutes, it felt like watching the vlog. I think this is the effect the director wants to achieve-recording Jane's day at work without exaggerating his own value orientation. I personally like this narrative very much.

With the development of Jane's work, I found that most of the work is dealing with trivial and continuous small things like babysitting. The only guide and criterion for this job is whether to satisfy your industry giant boss. If you don't agree with the boss a little bit, the boss directly calls you and scolds you bloody, and he strongly wants you to admit your mistakes and send him an apology letter. At this time, you can already find that Jane is in an environment that degrades you at all times, which is really very bad. What impressed me in the video was that after Jane apologized for the second time, the boss replied to the email saying: "i'm sorry, you are great. I was tough because I am going to make you great". The driver including the boss also said to Jane: "The boss said you are smart and hardworking, and think you are great." Jane, who has been degraded, showed a grateful expression when he heard these words. Seeing this scene, I was in a cold sweat. This is Jane, who has destroyed her self-confidence. Jane wants to keep this job. She can't tell the difference between offensive praise and abuse.

Throughout the film, there is no direct mention of sexual harassment, but you feel the existence of this kind of harassment and rights oppression all the time. This is what I think is true. Sexual harassment is like elephant in the room. Everyone can see it, and you can hear colleague's chaotic conversations, but no one really talks about it. Regarding Jane's state of hesitation when meeting with HR, I also think it is very real. When Jane realized that the boss and the new assistant were in the hotel, she went to HR in a subconscious state. I think she cared more about the new assistant as a female (maybe a little jealous but I think this Not her main feeling). HR's reaction was also very interesting. After half-threatening, he said comfortably: "don't worry you are not his type". In such a system, everyone is just doing his job, and no one is interested in the fragility concerns of a young girl.

Why do I say this film is true, because I think this film presents the state of a woman in such a workplace environment. There is no God’s perspective in the real world. We may feel that the surrounding environment is not right. This job makes you uncomfortable. We also know that leaving may be the best choice. But working under the boss of the industry opens doors for you, will it be better if you leave? When these "abnormal" things become a kind of culture, is it more practical to adapt to this environment to protect yourself? Another thing that impressed me is that Jane has always been very polite and deliberate when dealing with other people. But when she talked with HR and saw the new assistant who came back from the hotel sitting opposite her casually, she became bossy towards the boss and driver. The environment changes people really quickly.

Throughout the film, Jane’s boss did not show up, but by letting the boss’s laughter and voice seep from the closed door and telephone line, the director succeeded in creating a very controlling, extremely arrogant, and extremely disrespectful Female boss image. This also highlights the authenticity of Jane's work environment. Oppression, malice and abuse are like ghosts, silently realizing his crimes, turning employees into de facto accomplices.

Finally, again, this is really the best #MeToo video I have ever seen.

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Extended Reading

The Assistant quotes

  • Wilcock: I don't think you have anything to worry about.

    Jane: Hmm?

    Wilcock: You're not his type.

  • Boss: [Over the phone] I'm not gonna yell at you. Am I yelling? No... Because you're not someone even worthy of that. Because you didn't even have the fucking courtesy to talk to me about whatever the fuck fantasy you decided to spew all over me... So, let me ask, do you want to keep this job?

    Jane: Yeah.

    Boss: Okay... Then send me a fucking apology.