Mad Max, An Ode to Female Bravery

To prepare for the Oscars, I watched Mad Max: Fury Road this past week. A misconception of this film is that Max (Tom Hardy), is the hero of the film. Viewers soon realize, however, that Furiosa (Charlize Theron) provides the driving force behind this film. In a post-apocalyptic dystopian world, Furiosa is one of countless slaves to the brutal patriarchy of tyrant Immortan Joe. Furiosa smuggles Joe's prized harem out of the citadel to escape to safety. Upon reaching their destination, however, they must turn back and face the brutality of Joe and his cult followers. Furiosa's bravery, and the bravery of all the women in the film, provide young girls with the reminder that women in films can be courageous, strong, and independent in the face of danger. Never once does a women shirk from the fight in front of her. She stands strong, ready and willing to fight for what is right. Furiosa's commitment to her convictions provide a model for other female characters. What needs to be done next, however, is put female images of bravery in age appropriate content for young girls to see.