MovieChat Forums > Accused (2010) Discussion > Sexist? (Spoilers)

Sexist? (Spoilers)

posted 14 years ago by Arctic_Wizard
15 replies | jump to latest

I don't intend to start a long, heated argument on feminism here (I'm male by the way) although I will happily join in, should one occur; but now that Accussed has drawn to a close, I do feel that it was sexist in how the two women were found innocent, or at least depicted innocently, and the four male characters were all found guilty.

Don't get me wrong - I really enjoyed it and was desperate just now for Alison to get off, but couldn't help but feel and suspect this throughout. Thoughts?

"I love my babies, why would I want to push them away from me?" - Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[–] The_white_smoke 14 years ago

Too right it was sexist, she was in the wrong and she gets off while the husband gets sent down. Hated the bitch -.-.

[–] minifie-1 14 years ago

Actually I started by hating the bitch but as she was set up felt rather sorry for her. However I agree that it was too coincidental that the two women were acquitted - Helen especially who admitted her guilt and certainly started a fire - whilst the guys were jailed. There was no evidence that Willy was a counterfeiter and poor old Kenny was very hard done by. I do think we should have seen more of the court trials though to show how the verdicts were reached.

[–] Arctic_Wizard 14 years ago

I didn't hate Alison actually, but I agree with everything else you say.

"I love my babies, why would I want to push them away from me?" - Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[–] GazTruman 14 years ago

Yeah as the last episode was drawing to a close I started to wonder whether all the women were going to be found innocent and all the men guilty. Id like to know why it was decided to send the 4 men down and free the 2 women.

In whole a great series.

[–] Arctic_Wizard 14 years ago

Me too.

"I love my babies, why would I want to push them away from me?" - Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[–] lornamd-1 14 years ago

I haven't seen all the episodes but at least 2 of the men were innocent. We weren't supposed to agree with them being found guilty so how is that sexist? Its hardly saying that men should go to prison over women.

[–] Arctic_Wizard 14 years ago

If you haven't seen all the episodes, then - without wishing to sound condascending - I don't think you'll understand what I am referring too.

First of all - all four of the male characters - regardless of their motivations - were guilty of what they'd done, as was Juliet Stevenson's character, but she was found not guilty whereas all four men were convicted and given lengthy prison sentences. Naomi Harris' character however had been framed and, thankfully, was found innocent too.

It's kind of self-explantory really: the men are penalised and the women are clearly favoured in the writing. Which to me - as much as I like McGovern's work - seems sexist.

"I love my babies, why would I want to push them away from me?" - Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[–] lornamd-1 14 years ago

Willie was found guilty of money laundering when in fact he found the money so he wasn't guilty. Kenny was found guilty of murder when he played the most minor role in the beating and didn't inflict the injuries that killed him so was guilty of assault but innocent of murder. Justice wasn't done in those cases so viewers aren't supposed to support the outcomes.

[–] Arctic_Wizard 14 years ago

Appreciated - though Willie's story invites a whole different discussion on whether or not he deserved his sentencing - but you are missing my point: the MALE characters were the ones punished, in one way or another. The FEMALE characters were not: Helen was able to talk the Jury round and Alison was framed and, luckily, this was proven so.

"I love my babies, why would I want to push them away from me?" - Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[–] lornamd-1 14 years ago

I understand what you're trying to say I just disagree. Is the programme advocating these men being imprisoned? No because justice was not done in all those cases so its not saying the men being treated this way is right.

People use the same arguments for films about women being raped and murdered. That the films are "punishing" women but unless these crimes are shown as being justified then they are merely depicting mistreatment of women not being sexist.

Also in Kenny's case two men were let off so were not punished and being raped, mentally tortured and temporarily imprisoned as Alison was sounds like punishment to me.

[–] Arctic_Wizard 14 years ago

Well, yes - if you look at each character's story - they all are, in one way or another punished. But it's still not quite what I am referring too - I am talking specifically about the SENTENCING. What happened to each character prior to their conviction (or equital) is irrelevent.

"I love my babies, why would I want to push them away from me?" - Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[–] pol96-1 12 years ago

lornamd-1; Willie didn't "find" the money - he stole it. He WASN'T found guilty of money laundering because he wasn't CHARGED with money laundering.

He was convicted of passing counterfeit money. He WAS guilty of this because he gave all £20,000 of it to the casino who then reported it to the police. However, he was unaware that the money was counterfeit. This is no excuse in the eyes of the law though which is why he was convicted.

[–] kelly_roquet 13 years ago

She did the wrong thing first, but he did more and worse.
She didn't do anything illegal at all, so what the hell do you think she should have been convicted of? He raped her, and then had her framed for drug dealing, both illegal. And the police could hardly ignore such a blatant frame, he pretty much had to be arrested for it.

The overall series, I really can't comment on, since I only saw the Alison episode, and only that because I was in the room when my Mum watched it.

[–] Arsenal123 13 years ago

he didnt frame her it was his father

[–] deniseactress 10 years ago

he didnt frame her it was his father

the husband was deplorable. he was completely aware that his father set her up so he perjured himself and was an aware of the facts.

what Jordie?