MovieChat Forums > World War Z (2013) Discussion > I wonder why they shaved the head of the...

I wonder why they shaved the head of the Female IDF soldier?

posted 10 years ago by StoneGriffin
23 replies | jump to latest

Sorry if this has been addressed before. I tried to look through the MANY threads but I didn't see it.

But I wonder why the directorial decision to have Israeli Female Soldier "Segen" (who had her hand cut off) with a nearly shaved head (a really short 'buzz cut'). All during the Jerusalem battle scene, literally, I thought she was a BOY. It confused me immediately, but initially I thought that they were taking all persons over a certain age with any sort of military training to fight the Zombies so many this was a teenager who filled the ranks of soldier.

Only when Pitt refers to her as a woman did I realize that she was female. With that haircut, she 'could' have been just a young boy. Remember the gender bending role in "Pitch Black" where the girl tried to hide her gender on the space ship?

Anyway, this is NOT COMMON for female IDF soldiers. Just google Female IDF and you'll see that they still keep their hair and when on active duty they tie them up into tight buns. Even if someone argues that a shaved head deprives an assailant something to grab onto (your hair), a mainstream short hair cut for a woman would still do the trick. This was an obvious choice to shave her head (like Ripley in Alien3).

Not a question, but just an observation.

BTW: the Israeli actress Daniella Kertesz (who played Segen) is quite pretty and she does have hair! ;) LOL.

Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

[–] micirisi 10 years ago

Several reasons. 1) Made her look butch tough. 2) No flowing locks for the Zekes to grab. 3) She compensated with an abundance of pubic and armpit hair. 4) A severe shortage of hair-spray existed during WW-Z. 5. Actor Brad Pitt refused to chop off the hand of any one who looked like a middle eastern woman. He's pretty sensitive in that regard.

"He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator."

[–] jgroub 10 years ago

I need some proof of number 3. Preferably photographic.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] Zero_Wolf 10 years ago

It is uncommon.

However I assumed she wasn't just some common soldier serving out her mandatory term, she was a volunteer elite commando. And that's why her hair was cut short.

____________________________
Death is the road to awe.

[–] liverpool26 10 years ago

Personal choice it wasn't mandatory. When she's getting her hand cut off we can see the other female solider has very long hair so she obviously wasn't forced to shave her head.

[–] draftdubya-274-182961 10 years ago

I'm more shocked the the role wasn't played by Michelle Rodriquez

[–] captainburrito (128) 7 years ago

She's too angry and there would be an alternative path for the movie where she'd attempt to clear Jerusalem of all zombies by sheer force!

[–] tom_mcclarey-3 10 years ago

She was quite obviously female throughout the entire film.

[–] StoneGriffin 10 years ago

Nope, not that obvious. I'm not the only one who thought it was a young boy, hence the thread. Good for you. Here's a cookie :D

Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

[–] tom_mcclarey-3 10 years ago

You are in an extremely small minority of blind eejits who did not recognise a female.

[–] StoneGriffin 10 years ago

Nope lots of folks were confused. You're just a troll. :D

Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

[–] GroundsTheLimit 9 years ago

When you get older your body will produce hormones, and the changes will make it easier for you to recognize girls even without long hair and a pretty dress.

[–] Loincloth 9 years ago

Shouldn't get involved in this flame war but that was some brilliant snark, lol!

[–] nontradstdnt 10 years ago

This isn't going to sound good but, I wondered the same thing and figured it was to make sure that the audience didn't see her as a romantic interest in any way...you know considering we were made to worry about the wife and kids all the time. Is her head shaved in the book? I haven't read it.

[–] micirisi 10 years ago

Is her head shaved in the book?

The film does not resemble the novel. The novel is a collection of short and separate stories about a world wide zombie infestation. It's been a while since I read the novel though distinctly remember there was no Gerry Lane character. I can't recall specifically though also doubt there was a female IDF soldier who lost a hand.

He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.

[–] StoneGriffin 10 years ago

The IDF surely does NOT shave the hair of their female soldiers. I know that. Just look at all the photos of female IDF soldiers on the net. It's a bit of a cliche that Female Israeli soldiers are hotties (and they ARE). So it was a definite choice (and a weird one since there is NO regulations in the IDF that mandate that. Even the MEN rarely shave their heads once they're in the field, I have never seen a front line IDF soldier with a haircut like that, male or female). Many male IDF soldiers's hair is very short, but not shaved like that. I've seen 'zero' examples of any female soldier looking like that.

Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

[–] coolaree 9 years ago

They shaved her head to sexually confuse people like yourself?? Who knows.

They clearly weren't trying to imply that all female IDF soldiers shave their hair when there were clearly other female solider's with long thick hair in the EXACT SAME SCENES as the crew cut female (at one point she is flanked by 2 other be-haired female IDF members even...).

[–] StoneGriffin 9 years ago

Who knows? I did NOT say that they did it Intentionally to confuse people, which was your strange and rather idiotic conclusion. I noted that it served no purpose and DID confuse some folks like myself. I wasn't the only one who thought it was a BOY and was "hmmmm, the IDF sure is getting young soldiers". It was a style choice and one that was unnecessary (even more so when it confused people).

Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

[–] coolaree 9 years ago

You strongly implied that the filmmakers could have done it intentionally , by repeatedly mentioning it and going on about it. How do you know I was even responding to you, I could have just been ruling out their motivations.

As for confusion aspect you keep drumming up, its pretty obvious you were in the distinct minority of not recognising her as a female until the character mentions it.

Basically this entire thread was I was sexually confused by this sexy boy, why did they do something they didn't have to do, to sexually confuse me? She's such a minor character in an action movie the answer is probably they did it cause who gives a *beep* it makes her look unique. How's that for an idiotic conclusion lol.

But OK whatever, I don't argue with rude idiotic strangers like yourself in real life, and I don't do it online either, so enjoy your life.

[–] StoneGriffin 9 years ago

Nope. YOU implied that I said that the filmmakers set out to intentionally confuse people. That is what is stupid. I did no such thing because to think that any filmmaker intentionally tries to muddy the narrative or confuse the audience makes no sense. No, they DO it unintentionally all the time. That's what a 'mistake' is called. Filmmakers make errors all the time. Only a fool thinks that they make errors intentionally for no reason. So my gripe is with your dumb conclusion. That is all :D

Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

[–] Hollastar 9 years ago

You're an idiot, anyone with half a brain knew that was a female soldier the first scene they show her in the vehicle. Her build, her walk, everything about her screamed female. How the hell did you think it was a young boy? Ffs..

[–] StoneGriffin 9 years ago

You're so smart. How do you stand it? :)

Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.

[–] Hollastar 9 years ago

Entire point being it doesn't take a genius to figure out she's a chick.

[–] captainburrito (128) 7 years ago

I know there were ones with long hair but I'd shave mine for convenience and safety. Water might be an issue too.