CASE STUDY #3 // CHILDREN IN THRILLERS

In this case study I will be looking at the film 'Leon,' which is a French thriller film, described by critics as "stylish and oddly affecting". The plot is as follows:

1. "Mathilda (Natalie Portman) is only 12 years old, but is already familiar with the dark side of life: her abusive father stores drugs for corrupt police officers, and her mother neglects her. Léon (Jean Reno), who lives down the hall, tends to his houseplants and works as a hired hitman for mobster Tony (Danny Aiello). When her family is murdered by crooked DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman), Mathilda joins forces with a reluctant Léon to learn his deadly trade and avenge her family's deaths."
    
2. The director, Luc Besson, was criticised for his presentation of children in the film, with critic Robert Ebert stating that there was something immoral, or "wrong with placing a 12 year old in the middle of the action," especially as it "seems to exploit the youth of the girl without really dealing with it."
3.  

It could be argued that Mathilda has already been exploited or at least exposed to crime as she appears to be quite strong and confident, she smokes, comes from a dysfunctional family and goes to a school for troubled young girls. Her costume (designed by  Magali Guidasci) also suggests that she is streetwise and mature, she wears a fashionable choker, a crop top and an oversized bomber jacket, which looks slightly scruffy but far from childish given her real age (12). Having said this, her unkempt 'grunge' appearance does show the kind of background she is from, subtly implying her impoverished background and her struggle, a stronger representation of her character rather than it solely being a fashion statement.

When her family are murdered by a corrupt police man, Mathilda appears to the audience as incredibly vulnerable, she is not only grieving but is now in danger herself. After being reluctantly being taken in by her neighbour Leon, they form a bond. This is something totally innocent, and in the end Leon becomes a surrogate father for Mathilda.

 

Her quick attatchment and subsequent admiration for  Leon is to be expected, given that she has never been cared for or protected. This initial admiration and like for Leon turns into something of an adoration, with Mathilda professing her love for Leon which he rejects, primarily due to his natural suppression regarding her age, and his motto "no women, no kids", Mathilda fits into both catogeries so Leon cannot help but be taken aback and worried by this new found, unrequited love. Despite this, Mathilda persists and when asked by a stranger about her 'father' (Leon) she says "he's not my father. He's my lover," showing her perseverance to consider him as being romantically involved with her, as well as for other people to think that.

 

It can be argued that Mathilda is more of an adult than a child, although this remains ambiguious for most of the audience, and is dependent on opinion. Age wise, she is still classed as a child, but her attitude and appearance suggest otherwise. As I have mentioned before, Mathilda's does not maintain a youthful look and in addition to this, even her hair (see below) is cut into a mature style, mimicking an adult's.

 

(Taken from siridisi.org)

Events like family problems prior to her meeting Leon account for her mature outlook, but her age and youthful face appear to override her attitude and elements of her physical appearance. Her wordly possessions, in particular her toy rabbit, show her as being nothing but a child, vulnerable and extremely unconscious against the crime ridden background she has always been familiar with. Critics arguing for the exploitation of the youth of the girl in this film have evidence for this, with the juxtaposition of her comforting toy, age, natural naivety and hidden nervousness against the guns, violence and drugs that she is exposed to.

 

As Natalie Portman was only eleven when she was cast to play this role, I too think that although it was a brilliant portrayal, did not cover the issues she had to deal with in enough depth, and instead played on her innocence and age not to highlight themes but to get more of a reaction from the audience, which although would be an intention of the director is not fair on the character or child actor, who would not (I think) always be fully aware of the circumstances of the situation being filmed or their implications (like being a side kick for a hit man), and in this case is also a glamourisation of violence.