Was this review helpful to you? But the movie itself is amazing, Oldman is at his best and the violent scenes are top notch. Over time the two become close as Mathilda becomes Léon’s protégé. They drew on the media they were immersed in at the time, much like Mathilda. Change of scene. The sociologist William Corsaro calls this interpretive reproduction, which captures the balance of imitation and agency in girls’ play. It is undeniable that latent sexual potential has defined girlhood for many writers and creators, whether they have realised it or not. longer, the 10 sec. The presidencies of Kennedy and Johnson, the events of Vietnam, Watergate and other historical events unfold through the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, whose only desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 115,900 academics and researchers from 3,766 institutions. International Version 5:21 Min. Léon presents the story of Mathilda (played by a 12-year-old Portman in her debut role), who is orphaned when her family is murdered and seeks refuge with her neighbour Léon. Natalie Portman has spoken out about the “sexual terrorism” she experienced as a result of appearing in Léon, leading her to say in 2019 that “no one would make Léon today”. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption. It was only a few months ago that convicted child rapist Roman Polanski won the César award for best director, sparking protests in France and condemnation from actresses including Adèle Haenel, star of the recent French hit Portrait of a Lady on Fire. In a scene that reinforces her precociousness, Mathilda dresses up as a series of celebrities, impersonating Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin for Léon. With Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello. Title: Mathilda: "Thanks!". Sexualization of women in general is degrading, wrong and shameful. The symbols that do appear in the movie, however, provide the viewer with information about the inner workings of Leon and Mathilda. Experts in sociology and education have also observed children’s tendency to appropriate. In recent years, even before the #MeToo movement, female writers and directors have been emerging to take the subject of girlhood into their own hands, which has resulted in more authentic representations of girls’ experiences. Léon: The Professional Photos. Then we see more jobs performed with the above mentioned method. Luc Besson's Leon: The Professional is one of the most popular dramatic crime movies of the last 25 years, enjoying a strong rating of 8.5/10 while sitting at #31 on IMDb's Top 250 Films. Although the scene invites controversy and is uncomfortable to watch, what it actually demonstrates is undeniably girls’ play, showing typical girlhood amusements: dressing-up and impersonation. J. S. Golden. Mathilda drinks lots of champagne and wants Leon to kiss her. If you watch the extended cut/international version, there is a lot more of the romantic connection between Leon and Matilda, so it's kind of extra romantic. In film theory, the male gaze provides a view of the world through the eyes of straight men, since they tend to dominate positions within the film and TV industry. Though Besson’s film was critically acclaimed and in many ways has stood the test of time, its representation of girlhood has long been seen as problematic – and still jars. Tony is not thrilled but can be persuaded eventually. The first victim is a dealer used by Mathilda for shooting practice with a paint ball gun before Leon finishes the job. Yet this phenomenon is just one aspect of children’s rich cultural lives. Sexualization of a child is simply disgusting. It's easy to forget 17 years later this was a rather controversial movie, particularly the European cut, simply known as Leon. Written by In 1995, the film caused a stir on its release over its portrayal of the relationship between the two main characters, the loner hitman Léon and his girl apprentice Mathilda. Léon: The Professional (1994) was a controversial film at the time of its release. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. The International Version continues only when Tony helps them to blow out the candles. What are the tablets which Stansfield takes twice during the course of the film? An example of 19th-century girls’ appropriating culture can be seen in the youthful writings of Eglantyne Jebb (1876–1928), who went on to co-found the Save the Children Trust and define the rights of the child. The depiction of overtly sexualised girlhood is tiresome at best, and dangerous at worst. Leon and Mathilda are having dinner in a restaurant. Some, including French director Céline Sciamma are trailblazers in their depiction of female adolescence, eager to redress the balance. 'The Professional' actually completely fails to avoid being 'uncomfortable' about Leon and Mathilda's relationship. 'Leon' has the entire scene where Mathilda tries on the dress and attempts to seduce Leon, who rejects her before they platonically share the bed. Before mimicking celebrities from film and popular music, 19th-century girls would imitate the magazines they read, and write homages to, or critiques of, notable authors. My research into the history of children’s cultures demonstrates that girls have long experimented with appropriation and imitation. Must see action romance. Check out our editors' picks for our favorite Prime Video original movies and TV series, including "The Boys," "Fleabag," and more. Sciamma’s example shows that stories of girlhood relationships, pastimes and creativity all make for dynamic cinema. A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did. 7th Avenue and W 54th Street, New York City, New York, USA, The Best TV Shows About Being in Your 30s. Now we see Leon and Mathilda at work. Writers and directors can and must do justice to their girl subjects. Exclusive scenes in the Theatrical Version: The International Version is 22:28 Min. Looking for something to watch? Her home-made magazines are held in the Women’s Library at the London School of Economics. At the changeover to Tonys birthday party, the International Version is missing something this time. After her father, step-mother, step-sister and little brother are killed by her father's employers, the 12-year-old daughter of an abject drug dealer manages to take refuge in the apartment of a professional hitman who at her request teaches her the methods of his job so she can take her revenge on the corrupt DEA agent who ruined her life by killing her beloved brother. The last victim starts shooting through the door and Leon finishes him off with a grenade. A young F.B.I. The Theatrical Version shows Tony's restaurant from the outside, then a longer shot of his children trying to blow out the candles on the cake themselves. Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives. Leon agrees to kill Stansfield. Adolescent girls’ stories have long been presented in terms of their sexual precociousness. 44 of 46 people found this review helpful. Choose an adventure below and discover your next favorite movie or TV show. Her impression of Marilyn Monroe is part of her cultural arsenal, despite never having seen Monroe’s films. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin's trade. A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. The representation of Mathilda as a sexually precocious pre-teen was shocking to both viewers and critics, but the film made stars of both actors, Natalie Portman and Jean Reno, and catapulted Besson into mainstream Hollywood. Before they leave Mathilda burns the drugs in the apartment. Whether we consider a film made 25 years ago – or a novel written 125 years ago – we see that girlhood is often framed by the wilful misunderstanding of young women’s experiences. Leon: The Professional-- Yes, Leon Sleeps With a 12-Year-Old Girl. The lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges: a black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious gift. Mathilda glues the door viewer shut with her bubblegum and asks the person inside to open the door because it is dark in the hallway. Because of the sexualization of a child and the pedophile-vibes I got from this movie, I could not completely enjoy it and also can not find myself supporting such a film. Use the HTML below. Her films such as Water Lilies (2007), Tomboy (2011), Girlhood (2015) and this year’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, all place girl characters at the heart of the story. Eventually, Mathilda tells Léon that she loves him, and and that she wants to “have it” with him. But looking at the nature of girls’ culture, which involves adapting adult conventions to suit their needs, can provide a radical rereading of girlhood. Leon: "No. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Luc Besson’s controversial thriller Léon: The Professional – and a special director’s cut has been released to mark the event. The scene wasn’t rehearsed, so that Reno’s response would be one of genuine surprise when Portman croons Like a Virgin and Happy Birthday (Mr President) while clad in make-up and costumes. (1994). Leon: The Professional is about an Italian killer living in New York (Jean Reno) who starts taking care of a girl named Mathilda (a very young Natalie Portman) after her family is killed. In fact, the European version was so risque for American test screen audiences the movie's questionable scenes were removed and the film was retitled, The Professional. Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl, is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. Yet the history of youth can offer insights into girls’ culture that provides an alternative view to the more common perspective of the male gaze. The films of Sciamma and her contemporaries indicate that a sea-change is possible. The main and most obvious symbol in the… He declines appalled and Mathilda starts laughing at him. After her father, step-mother, step-sister and little brother are killed by her father's employers, the 12-year-old daughter of an abject drug dealer manages to take refuge in the apartment of a professional hitman who at her request teaches her the methods of his job so she can take her revenge on the corrupt DEA agent who ruined her life by killing her beloved brother. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Due to her traumatic formative experiences, she believes that she has “finished growing up” and “just getting older”. Unlike other 1994 crime films (Pulp Fiction, Natural Born Killers, etc. Mathilda tells Léon that she is 18, though she is clearly prepubescent. longer than the Theatrical Version! Leon: "How old are you?" Léon The Professional… Or Pedophile? Copyright © 2010–2020, The Conversation US, Inc. Léon: The Professional Edinburgh Napier University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. In addition, the film earned roughly three times its budget at the worldwide box-office, turning a $16 million price-tag into a $45 million global haul. You just look a little young." Leon introduces Mathilda to Tony as his new apprentice. Lois Burke does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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