Blog 5 Option 1

           Upon hearing about the Bechdel test in class, my first instinct was to investigate my all-time favorite movie, Frozen. This newly released Disney animated movie stars two sisters, one of which has been born with the power to freeze anything from her hands. The oldest sister with the power, Elsa, has come of age to become the queen. She is always dressed in long floor length dresses that appear to be from a renaissance time period. Her younger sister, Ana, lives in the palace as well and is unmarried and has no powers. The character of Elsa helps depict a woman in power that does not need any male support as she is unmarried and remains unmarried throughout the film.

            The sister’s have multiple conversations when growing up and in adulthood about their societal roles, and fixing their broken relationship. There are a few male roles in the film but ultimately the males are actually subordinate to the women. Both sisters are lead characters and men take the “back seat” in the film and are the supporting characters. As Ana is dying and needs an act of true love to save her, rather than true loves kiss being the cure, she instead needs the love of her sister.

            The sister’s, though considered royal in the film and one has magical powers, are “normal women” in the sense that they must work and build their relationship with each other and have great responsibilities. I was slightly surprised by the outcome because there are many Disney movies I have seen that do not pass the test and because the female roles in Frozen could initially appear as the stereotypical “princess roles.” I was more than excited to find that Frozen passes the bechdel test and I see it as a positive film for both young and older women.