Director Andrew Dominik (“Killing Them Softly”) spent a full twelve years filming the film adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ novel “Blonde” before the drama of the same name was released on Netflix in September 2022. It was already clear in advance that the work could become a scandal, because the book was also the subject of much discussion.
Blonde isn’t a biography, it’s a novel that follows the life of movie character Marilyn Monroe – and the Mrs. Norma Jean behind the fictional character – not just told based on fact, but fictitiously supplemented. This means that neither the novel nor the film claim to tell the “true” story of Monroe.
It is mainly the often violent sex scenes in the Netflix film that cause outrage. In “Blonde”, Dominik shows how the entire Hollywood film industry sexually exploits actors Norma Jean (played by Ana de Armas) (on and off the camera) to create the Marilyn Monroe that rings the box office – relentlessly on losses. In the US, the film even has an NC-17 rating, which is actually mainly given to pornographic films.
“Blonde” has been discussed and heavily criticized on social networks for days. The negative votes are now also supported by model and actress Emily Ratajkowski (“Gone Girl”). She explains that while she hasn’t seen Dominic’s work, there’s one aspect of the film that bothers me the most: “I’m not surprised it’s another movie that fetishizes female pain, even in death.”
Similar opinions can be found on Twitter. The tweets continue to say “misogyny” and “disrespectful” and many viewers complain that the film has relegated Monroe to a sex object.
Two abortions and the consequences that Monroe has to experience in the film also cause a lot of excitement. At the beginning of her career, she is forced to have an abortion, which is very explicitly portrayed. When she becomes pregnant again, a CGI fetus instinctively speaks to her and begs her not to hurt him.
These scenes even spawned Planned Parenthood, an American nonprofit that campaigns for women’s rights to abortion, education and medical care.
Leading advocate of Planned Parenthood Caren Spruch said in a statement (via ) that it is important that abortions in art and media are presented in a medically correct and authentic way. Talking, adult fetus asking for protection and expressing emotions helps stigmatize women and their abortions. So in that respect, according to Planned Parenthood, “blonde” is extremely problematic.
If you want to see the film for yourself, you can find it on Netflix. FILMSTARTS colleague Björn Becher saw “Blonde” at the Venice Film Festival. You can read his 4.5 star review here: