“Woman in Rage” is an experimental narrative work that utilizes unsettling distortions of female form, accompanied by a confrontational narrative and a disorienting score. The short film acts to give voice to those who have marginalized and abused by a system that sets double standards within certain cultures and environments.
“Women in Rage” is Screening at Cartoons Underground
Exploding with energy from the opening frame, Chen Yanyun and Sara Chong's short expounds on the injustices that face many women in the modern era. The flow certainly reflects the title of rage, and the words come out in a poetic flow that would also favor the medium of spoken word. Each sentence carries weight and is punctuated by strong statements which resonate perfectly with the distorted imagery of the female form. The approach has a vibe similar to the postmodern feminist movement, echoed in the literature by the likes of Kathy Acker and transgressive film makers like Lydia Lunch. That is one that explores the subject matter with an uncompromising edge exploring themes of relativism and nihilism. Undeniably, the work is confrontational and will be upsetting to some, but with that being the driving intent the film is, undeniably, well executed.
The animation and score play into the narrative aptly, with both being intrusive and unsettling. Particularly, the distortion of sexual organs, or those deemed to have sexual purpose, paints a picture of form broken down to its most primitive interpretation. Ultimately, the combination of text, score, and visuals perfectly encapsulates the visceral anger expressed at the mistreatment of women.
With a wonderfully disorienting and confrontational approach to conveying narrative, “Women in Rage” is certain to have a very limited audience. However, that is not to say that the message, and consequent form to convey said message, is not one without importance or appeal. Brief yet powerful, the production is certainly worth experiencing for the questions it poses and self exploration of how one reacts to the approach.
