Beauty as Power
- The film depicts beauty as a form of power, particularly for women.
- Julia uses her beauty to manipulate and control others, demonstrating the extent to which physical appearance can influence social interactions.
- However, the film also suggests that beauty can be a double-edged sword, as it can also lead to isolation and exploitation.
Desire and Obsession
Sleeping Beauty also examines the role of desire in human behavior. The characters’ actions are often driven by their desire for beauty, whether it is their own or someone else’s.
- Julia’s obsession with maintaining her youthful appearance leads her down a path of self-destruction.
- Alex’s desire for Julia blinds him to her true nature, leading to his own downfall.
- The film suggests that desire can be both a creative and destructive force, capable of driving people to great heights or into the depths of despair.
Subversion of Beauty Standards
Sleeping Beauty subverts traditional notions of beauty by presenting characters who do not conform to societal expectations.
- Julia’s aging body is depicted as both beautiful and grotesque, challenging the idea that beauty is only associated with youth.
- The film also features characters with disabilities, who are often marginalized in mainstream media.
- By challenging traditional beauty standards, Sleeping Beauty encourages viewers to question their own assumptions about what is considered beautiful.
Narrative Structure and Style
Julia Leigh’s “Sleeping Beauty” defies traditional narrative conventions, weaving a fragmented and elliptical tale that unfolds through a series of loosely connected vignettes. This unconventional structure mirrors the protagonist’s disjointed and fractured state of mind, creating a sense of disorientation and unease.
