Captain Marvel: The broken woman

Cinema Wednesdays - Thierry Fivaz

For their twenty-first film, Marvel Studios retraces the story of Carol Danvers, the former US Air Force pilot who would become one of the most powerful characters the Marvel universe has ever counted.

Someone unfamiliar with the Marvel universe might wonder if this umpteenth superhero movie might be a bit hard to follow. It’s an understandable concern, since in recent years, the American franchise has brought to life an impressive cast of characters—such as Iron Man, the Hulk, and Captain America, to name just a few—the very same heroes who will band together to defend Earth against the threat in Avengers. Those unfamiliar with the genre might therefore expect—and no doubt with good reason—not to understand a thing. Nevertheless, that is not the case. With Captain Marvel, the two directors, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, best known for Have You Seen This? (2003), Young Rebels (2005), Sugar (2008) skillfully craft a fast-paced story that blends action with a quest for identity.

An effective formula that immerses us—through images of galactic expanses and ever-impressive spaceships—in the daily life of Vers (Brie Larson), a young woman belonging to the Kree people (an alien race native to the planet Hala). Suffering from amnesia and with no memory of her past, Vers is on a quest to discover who she is. It is during a mission that she will learn the truth: her name is Carol Danvers, she is human, and she comes from Earth.

The Stronger Sex

Carol is a particularly endearing character; though she is said to be too emotional, not strong enough, or even weak, she shatters these clichés. Despite the humiliations and setbacks, the filmmakers—by highlighting Carol’s determination to always get back up in the face of failure—elegantly underscore her strength. This strength lies in her ability to draw on her emotions to triumph, and when combined with her immense resilience and the guiding principle of «always getting back up,» it makes Carol one of the most powerful superheroes who has ever existed.

A feminist aspect of the film that is immediately apparent and remains particularly interesting—and even welcome. One of Earth’s enemies even goes so far as to say that «the woman» (referring to Carol) is the deadly weapon, an ambiguity in the determiner that leads us to realize that perhaps it is not just Carol who is being referred to here.

But beyond this feminist interpretation, other interpretations are also possible: Captain Marvel addresses, in its own way, the plight of migrants and the search for a homeland for a people without one—not to mention, of course, the quest for identity and meaning, but also, and above all, family ties and friendship. These are the elements that make Captain Marvel, a film that's enjoyable to watch, even for those who aren't familiar with the subject.

Write to the author: thierry.fivaz@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Marvel Studios

[table id=45 /]