Wonder Woman: Reasons to celebrate the movie success

The success of the movie Wonder Woman in theaters of different countries of the world is reason to celebrate. When the choice of actress Gal Gadot was announced for the role of superhero, countless people reacted negatively, trying to say that she would not be good enough. The Israeli actress not only performed very well, but along with director Patty Jenkins, both have managed to stand out in a challenging universe full of stereotypes and still full of inequalities, although women have as much talent as men. It is worth remembering that all prejudice does not always come only from the opposite pole, as it is often internal, independent of the social group.

The fiction in different formats does not have as premise raise flags, but ends up giving us numerous reflections. In extremism times, xenophobia, sexism and different forms of dissemination of prejudices and hatreds, the film Wonder Woman provides a nice dose of catharsis and raises pertinent awareness of nowaday’s issues.

Diana's outlook on life is not only the result of living in a matriarchal society, but also the naive eyes of those who venture into another world, another culture – fundamental point, since the work explores the war between nations. As a restless child, she does not hesitate to question: one of the best messages of the film. Patty Jenkins managed to balance the commercial side of the film, without giving up the subtleties between the lines. When Steve's secretary, for example, reveals what her job is to do everything the boss says, Diana reveals that where she came from, this is called slavery.

Diana commits herself to humanity. Even though she was closer to Steve, the protagonist's love is more for universal love than for romantic love – a point that bothered some who expected complete emotional independence from heroin, without realizing that the idea was to show just the opposite: That the ego, in its different manifestations, can lead to wrong choices. Wonder Woman gives a show of empathy and reminds us of the importance of fighting for the things we believe, even though many decide to be complicit and oblivious. In times of war, Diana does not choose sides according to flags, but measures the consequences behind the actions – it is not the figure of the superhero who defends the English people only by defending, which is clear until the end of the film. Even being counseled that she can not save everyone, she resists and does not give up on her mission. She never positions herself as someone better than the others, either because she is the daughter of Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons in Themyscira, because she excels in trainings or during her life with characters with different scars.

"It's about what you believe. And I believe in love. Only love will truly save the world" – Diana, Wonder Woman

Unlike superheroes praised for sarcastic personality, egocentrism, powers and possessions, the main idea behind the film's Diana, confirmed by director Patty Jenkins herself, is to present a heroine who believes in the power of love, change, and betterment of mankind. Jenkins revealed in The New York Times interview the importance of the art of bringing beauty to the world. The film explores the importance of balance and discernment in different aspects of life: It is not about Wonder Woman feeling superior to others, either because she is a woman or because she has superpowers, but rather to fight for justice, for truth and to stay true to her oath to protect those who are victims of Ares, the God of War. The humility and selflessness of Diana serve as reminders that even with privileges, it is important to respect others.

The action scenes of the film impress, but Diana's personality is the Wonder Woman's differential. She could be an anti-hero because of her past, but the character becomes a symbol of resistance, powerful image taking into account the world problems we are facing, such as the possibilities of war because of self-centered and spoiled politicians who think money can buy the world and they promote hatred to those who are different. Diana symbolizes peace and utopian as it may seem, it may be exactly what we need in times that seem to live in a dystopia plot. The script does not only explore the silencing and oppression of women, but of men in lower positions of power and how wars kill thousands of innocents, regardless of how they feel about governments. In fact, despite showing the feminine strength, an antagonist helps to appease the fragile egos who could say that the message of the film is to show a woman with virtues and men with their vices: the nature of human corruption, violence and hatred Is inherent to anyone, regardless of gender, identity or nationality.

Just as Anthony Burges in A Clockwork Orange questions freedom and man’s ability to choose, condition that annulled also would mean the end of his humanity, Diana not only understands that men are not perfect and carry their own dualities often leaning more to the darkness, as she recognizes – which does not mean she accepts blindly. Attempts at ego domination and nationalist superiority are responsible for wars, and if Diana welcomed the idea of Ares, she would be as bad as him. If even the gods are not perfect, why expect the perfection of the human being? This does not mean that we need to remain silent, just as artists are not afraid to stand in the face of the last chaotic years, especially when our destinies are in the hands of fools who can screw things up at any minute. The world needs more wondrous women and wondrous men,  not only on the screens, but outside them too – people who realize that the world does not revolve around their egos and that each of us can do its part to make the planet a better habitable place. Wonder Woman was worth every minute and every penny!


*Ben Oliveira is a Brazilian writer, blogger with a journalism degree. He is the author of the horror book Escrita Maldita, published on Amazon and the youth fantasy novel Os Bruxos de São Cipriano, available on Wattpad.