Netflix is immensely promoting an award-winning film, “Cuties,” which narrates as “a coming-of-age tale” from the streaming platform. But people across the world are expressing indignation concerning the plot of the movie that sexualizes young girls, and a petition has been filed in an effort to have it removed from Netflix.
On Tuesday, Netflix announced that “Cuties” would be making its entry in the platform, sharing the French language film’s trailer on Twitter. The advertisement reads: “Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family’s traditions.”
The Hollywood News published the full synopsis of the film, which reads:
Eleven-year-old Amy lives with her mom, Mariam, and younger brother, awaiting her father to rejoin the family from Senegal. Amy is fascinated by disobedient neighbor Angelica’s free-spirited dance clique, a group that stands in sharp contrast to stoic Mariam’s deeply held traditional values. Undeterred by the girls’ initial brutal dismissal and eager to escape her family’s simmering dysfunction, Amy, through an ignited awareness of her burgeoning femininity, propels the group to enthusiastically embrace an increasingly sensual dance routine, sparking the girls’ hope to twerk their way to stardom at a local dance contest.
Even before its release on the platform, the international film has emitted sparks of international outrage.
One purported Somalian man’s reaction to Netflix’s post typified a common response: “SMH… Typical. European & Western films in general forever demonising and portaying African culture/Islamic faith in a negative light. In addition to promoting immorality and promiscuity to young girls! Stop sexualising young girls and let them be kids.”
The movie poster released to promote the film ignited further wrath . It shows the 11-year-old lead character kneeling down with her legs spread, and a co-star portraying provocative dance sequences in the background. All four girls in the picture are sporting dance outfits with crop-tops exposing their midriffs along with bottoms and knee pads similar to a volleyball player’s uniform.
A petition was also launched, calling for removing “Cuties” from Netflix.
Its plea reads:
This movie/show is disgusting as it sexualizes an ELEVEN year old for the viewing pleasure of pedophiles and also negatively influences our children! There is no need for this kind of content in that age group, especially when sex trafficking and pedophilia are so rampant!
As of this writing, more than 6,700 people had signed the petition.