Portrayal of Women

HUM 425.01 – S. Steier

Formal Assignment #1

June 23, 2005

The Portrayal of Women

The portrayal of women in the foreign films that have been viewed in class have been similar. In class, we have seen several films, all of which have subtly emphasized the role of women in a particular light. The women in the films play important roles in which the storyline is embedded, but are not portrayed as being strong unless another individual is present to tell them how to be independent. The films have illustrated women as being dependent and submissive. Tampopo, in the film Tampopo, and Diouana, in the film Black Girl, are excellent examples of this.

In Tampopo, the first film shown in class, the main character, a woman named Tampopo, overcomes many internal issues within herself and succeeds at the goal she has set for herself, which is to be accepted as a recognized ramen chef. Tampopo is an owner and chef of a ramen noodle restaurant which is failing in all aspects of a business. Goro and Gun, two truck drivers passing through town, stop at her restaurant to eat, and Goro, the other main character, ends up getting into a fight with one of her regular customers, Pichken. Tampopo nurses Goro back to health so he can continue his trip, and asks for his criticism on her business, which is under par compared to many ramen noodle houses. Wanting to become a better person all around, Tampopo asks for Goro’s assistance in training her to become a better ramen noodle chef. Tampopo doesn’t know anything about Goro and she’s asking for his assistance to become a better chef. She is becomes dependent upon his criticism of her skills. The movie unravels quite nicely, but her need for assistance from a complete stranger is very unusual in realistic terms. I would assume that a person would look to people he or she is close to for constructive criticism, especially if it was to better oneself.

The absence of her late husband also adds to her need for a man in her life, at least one that can sustain his responsibilities. Although Tampopo does have Pichken in her life as a regular customer, his drunken habits and attraction towards her deters his ability to assist her, and her need for him in her life. He later shows back up in her life and does what he can to help her out, by remodeling her restaurant for her.

Goro, Gun, and Pichken are not the only men Tampopo are dependent on. She is introduced to a servant of a wealthy elderly man and Goro’s mentor, another elderly man. Tampopo has no ties to any of these men, except Pichken, and can connection isn’t even worth one to have, as of surface credit, yet she’s very dependent upon their opinions about her.

In the movie, when Goro and Tampopo are sampling competitors’ ramen noodles and their abilities as ramen noodle chefs, she shields herself from their comments by staying behind Goro when she speaks. Also, you can see a look for acceptance whenever she makes a statement. She has a need to be accepted, especially as a ramen noodle chef, since there are no ramen noodle chefs in the movie to compare her to. Tampopo wants to be accepted and have approval as a ramen noodle chef by everyone, especially Goro. The dependence on Goro that she has may be because of her to admiration for him for helping her when he has time.

Her dependence on these men is conditional, since she wants to run a noodle house independently. Her goal is to be independent, but in order for that to happen, she must be criticized on her work, which the men do for her. She doesn’t have any female companions throughout the entire film, which probably makes for male spectators throughout the movie.

Black Girl, another movie viewed in class, portrays Diouana, the main character, as being reliant on everyone else. She strives to be independent, but has to work for a French family when they move from Dakar to France. Her boss, Madame, gives Diouana her hand-me-downs and fools her into thinking they are friends. Diouana repays her gratitude by giving the family a tribal mask. When Diouana finally rebels against the family she works for, mainly the Madame, she commits suicide, thinking that it’s