RiotGrrrl spirit is alive on Netflix

Moxie is a 2021 film produced by Netflix, based on the book by Jennifer Mathieu. It is available Free on Netflix now.

The film is set in comedy/drama that explores the modern world, social media, sexism and the toxic culture that can await young people in high-school. It is based around a fictional school and possibly exaggerated characters, but everyone has personal experiences with people who used confidence as a weapon and bullied both male and females. It highlights that in 2021, different issues face the women of now, but they need to be fought with the same vigor as the battle for the vote, equal pay, maternity leave and work-place harassment.

Vivian (Hadley Robinson) is a shy 16 year old girl who is facing her move into year 11 at school, she is inspired by her mother's rebel girl past, of publishing zines, starting a feminist group and standing up for herself. She also makes a new confident friend who challenges her and the horribleness of her school to make a zine named MOXIE. The zine calls out the horrid behaviour of some of the most popular people in the school and "The List" which ranks the female students and gives awards like "best arse" and "most bangable". In doing so she inspires a group of girls to stand up for themselves. While remaining anonymous, she helps create the “moxie girls” which is a group where they can freely discuss the injustice they face and plan ways in which they plan to fight it and protest.

There is a lot to like about this film, the interplay between characters is well done. Vivian ( Hadley Robinson) falls for the only decent guy in her high school. His support of her is well done, while he remains a believable teenage boy. The relationship between mother and daughter is also very well done with Amy Poehler (screen adaption - Mother) no doubt adding some real touches.

Many of us enjoy films about high school, we like watching things like Mean Girls, She's all that and even The kissing booth. Moxie gives us a view of what high school is actually like. While social media has put some power back into the hand of users, it has also made bullying a 24-hour business.

Jennifer Mathieu is an English teacher in high school and this book is somewhat based on her experiences. The issues facing the girls are deep, entrenched and realistic. Sadly they no doubt highlight the issues that face girls today. It's no longer a fight for the vote, and less equal pay, but more equality in every other field.

In one scene a girl is sent home because she is wearing a tank top, that is labelled "too revealing" even though many boys wore the same thing. In another the female soccer team is under-funded though they have won multiple cups vs the male football (American) which is well funded despite their regular losses.

The film focuses on ingrained sexism, rape, cyber-bullying and the beauty standard. While these are some complex and painful issues they are handled well and Vivian and her friends do make their part of the world better for having the courage to stand up. It also shows how a good narrative can be used to highlight social issues.

Moxie shows that even now post the #Metoo movement, the arrest of people like Harvey Weinstein and The fox news scandals, the world still has a long way to go. We can hope as more and more woman are writing, directing and producing film and TV, the media war is also won.