How women’s choices, careers, and motherhood is being depicted in the film Sara’s and Mimi?
Women, women’s choices and understanding of a woman is often confused in the patriarchal society. From raising questions on women’s pursuing careers to expecting them to prioritise parenthood, women’s authority over their body has been always undermined. And amid this confused state of society, having films that show women taking the authority of their body and letting them make their own decisions is an utter bliss to see. The two films, Mimi and Sara’s, released in the last month deserve our attention. While both the films are plotted on women’s choices, career and motherhood, their treatment is different.
Mimi: In Mimi, Mimi (Kriti Sanon) is a surrogate mother who is betrayed by the parents of the child she is bearing, in the middle of the pregnancy. Mimi has a dream of becoming an actress and she is passionate about it. Mimi, in the film, chooses to not abort the child and even sacrifices her career for the child.
Sara’s: In Sara’s, Sara is a woman who wishes to become a film director. She, from her teenage years, was adamant on not having a child. She is absolutely involved in scripting for her film and finding a producer for her film. As she finds one, she also encounters the news of her being pregnant. Engulfed with the family’s pressure, Sara finds herself unsupported yet stands firm on her choice of not wanting a child.
Read More: Indian Women’s Hockey Team, P V Sindhu and others, weekly wrap of women in news last week
Contrasts in the representation of both the films, Sara’s and Mimi
Sara’s acknowledges the importance of becoming prepared for parenthood and how accidental pregnancy should be dealt with
In Sara’s, there’s a long monologue of Sara’s gynaecologist stating how important it is to become prepared for parenthood. He says that a woman, due to any mental or physical reasons, can decide if she wishes to take the pregnancy forward or not. “Even for an entrance exam, you prepare for a couple of years, so parenthood is the most important exam of your life. What kind of preparation do we undertake?” An accidental pregnancy is an accident that needs a solution and continuing with an accident is not the solution. In Mimi, no acknowledgment is given to what should be done with an unplanned pregnancy.
Sara’s allow Sara to prioritize self growth, independence, and authority to make decisions
Sara chooses to be herself. She decides to have a say, even in the patriarchal family she is living in. Of course, Mimi is based in a very different locality and space, yet what the film is trying to portray is very confusing.
Mimi reflects sacrificing career for motherhood
Motherhood is a choice, and so is choosing to work. Yet, motherhood should not be shown requiring quitting a career. Mimi here is seen quitting her one and only passion to raise a child, it is confusing if the film is trying to appropriate quitting everything for the child.
Overall, the message that both of these films are trying to deliver is very different. There is a certain lack of sensitivity in addressing the conceptions of womanhood in Mimi. When Mimi tries to acknowledge the idea of surrogacy, abortion, etc with comedy remaining the center of the film, the missing layers in the writing is building the insensitivity. In Sara’s sensible and sensitive take on womanhood with maintaining calmness and simplicity is what is satisfying.
