[Film] Saint Frances

Watched on: 07/09/2024

Reviewed on: 07/11/2024

Saint Frances is a quintessential feminist film. And it combines the "cruel and chaotic" themes of life with a "fresh and gentle" visual style

Blood is a recurring metaphor throughout the story. Bridget and her younger boyfriend have their first sexual encounter during her unexpected period, an awkward moment that becomes an anchor for the entire story. Blood, an unspoken yet ever-present character, reappears when she decides to have an abortion, leading to continuous bleeding as a side effect. These bloodstains symbolize and metaphorize the female identity, constantly reminding the audience of their significance. The film portrays the complex and ambiguous predicament of women, illustrating their indisputable freedom of choice—be it abortion or the right to same-sex procreation—while also highlighting the external pressures and criticisms they face, often from other women. For instance, in the park, Frances’ mother is chastised by another middle-class woman for breastfeeding publicly, a transformation and transference of patriarchal oppression, where some women assume the role of maintaining patriarchal standards.