Title: Damsels in Distress
Director: Whit Stillman (‘Metropolitan’)
Starring: Greta Gerwig (‘Arthur’), Carrie MacLemore (TV’s ‘Gossip Girl’), Megalyn Echikunwoke (TV’s ‘House of Lies’), Analeigh Tipton (‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’) and Adam Brody
While college coeducation has been commonplace in American society since the early 1970s, there are still some colleges nationwide whose identities are still distinctly male. Determined to showcase how a persistent male barbaric atmosphere can be uncomfortable for female students to adjust to, the new comedy ‘Damsels in Distress’ takes a stand for women nationwide. The film finally portrays women as being the more intellectual, opinionated gender that isn’t afraid to stand up for its beliefs through strong, independent female lead characters.
‘Damsels in Distress’ follows three beautiful girls-dynamic leader Violet Wister (played by Greta Gerwig), principled Rose (portrayed by Megalyn Echikunwoke) and sexy Heather (played by Carrie MacLemore)-as they set out to revolutionize the student life of their grungy East Coast college, Seven Oaks. At the beginning of the school year, they decide to take a new student under their wing to mentor, and decide to welcome transfer student Lily (portrayed by Analeigh Tipton) into their group.
The three girls show Lily the way they set to help the student body of Seven Oaks, by running the suicide prevention center with a program of good hygiene and musical dance numbers. Along the way, the girls also become entangled with a series of men at the school, including the mischievous Charlie (played by Adam Brody), the romantic Xavier (portrayed by Hugo Becker) and frat members Frank (played by Ryan Metcalf) and Thor (portrayed by Billy Magnussn, who all threaten the girls’ sanity and friendship.
Writer-director Whit Stillman took a risky move in showcasing college women as being intellectually and culturally smarter than their male counterparts in ‘Damsels in Distress,’ but the decision ultimately paid off. While such films as National Lampoon’s ‘Animal House’ and ‘Van Wilder’ have routinely shown fraternity students challenging the status quo at their schools, Stillman created independent, unique female characters who were smarter than their male counterparts. Each of the women in Violet’s group has a distinctive, take charge attitude, while the men they’re attracted to are inferior to them, whether in their book smarts or their barbaric outlook on gender roles.
Violet is the natural leader of her group of friends, as she firmly stands behind her ideas and beliefs. While people don’t always agree with her tactics, such as using dance to help the depressed students of Seven Oaks feel better, she is determined to get others to recognize her point of views. The more her peers question her beliefs, the more Violet is determined to stand up for her ideas and to improve the world. But she’s also willing to improve herself when she realizes her ideas aren’t always rights; she’s a natural leader because she’s willing to listen to other people’s points of view.
Rose and Heather are natural counterparts and support systems for Violet as she sets out to save the student body of Seven Oaks. Rose is more judgmental than Violet, and always rushes to give her opinionated voice of reason on any circumstances the group comes into. While she’s practical, she stands firm on her ideas on college life. Heather, meanwhile, isn’t always the smartest one in the group, but she isn’t afraid to voice her opinions on any subject. She feels the need to continuously explain basic things to people, in an effort to make herself feel smarter. Heather’s confidence in herself exudes assurance to everyone around her.
While Violet and her friends feel the need to rescue Lily from failure and sadness, Lily is just a normal American college student looking to find her way in the world. She decides to join Violet’s group, whose antics are completely different than her own, so that she can have friends at Seven Oaks. While Lily has a naivety to her, due to her provincial upbringing, Violet doesn’t completely influence her ideas and actions; Lily is determined to hold on to her own conformist ideas.
Gerwig, Tipton, Echikunwoke and MacLemore all have unique personalities that they brought to their respective characters to make each one unique. However, despite the short month-long shooting schedule of the independent ‘Damsels in Distress’ and the differences between their characters, the actresses all genuinely bonded, which helped bring an authenticity to the film. After the characters all look past their own ideas on school and men, they all care about each other and remain friends because they aren’t afraid to stand up to, and for, each other.
‘Damsels in Distress’ is a refreshing female-driven answer to the male-dominated college themed films that focus on students striving to make a social difference at their school. Through the actresses’ bond and their characters’ unique personalities and willingness to always defend what they believe in, the comedy amusingly reflects the changing social dynamic happening at colleges across the country. Violet and her diverse group of friends represent the determination of women who struggle to have their voices and opinions heard.
Technical: B
Acting: B+
Story: B
Overall: B
Written by: Karen Benardello
