Netflix released a trailer for a new award winning French drama depicting a group of 11-year-old friends from diverse backgrounds become passionate about a new hobby that challenges traditions: twerking.
‘Cuties’ is a movie set in France, to be released on Netflix September 9, involving a diverse group of girls from differing faiths and traditions come together to celebrate the sexualized dance maneuver.
As these girls come of age, challenges arise in their personal lives as their new passion clashes with their household’s traditions.
However, the scantily-clad young girls remain undeterred to pursue this new pastime. Even slightly older boys, approximately 14-years-old, appear in their lives, adding to what many have deemed a less-that-wholesome plot.
“Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family’s traditions,” Netflix’s short film synopsis reads.
Commenters on YouTube, despite the positive like-to-dislike ratio, were generally appalled by the trailer.
Some called out the film for its sexualization of children at a time when pedophilia allegations and sexual scandals haunt Hollywood and many powerful individuals.
One of the Muslim characters has her family’s faith and customs challenged by her new hobby in a Westernized milieu.
“Seems really weird that you would contrast an Islamic family who wants their 11 year old daughter to be religious and cover herself up…” one person commented. “With her dancing provocatively and wearing considerably less clothes. Like, you couldn’t have made the girls 18 at the very least? This seems like borderline propaganda and an excuse to see young girls dancing.”
For those who want to know the deep plot of this film pic.twitter.com/9vFlmQZKBo
— Pig (@BionicPIGtv) August 19, 2020
Another feature of the movie is its rating for a mature audience, considered strange by some considering the film involves scantily clad 11-year-olds dancing provocatively.
“The movie is rated MA, for Mature Audiences. a movie about 11 year olds twerking, rated for mature. let that sink in,” one person tweeted.
the movie is rated MA, for Mature Audiences.
a movie about 11 year olds twerking, rated for mature.
let that sink in.
— kam (@KAMATNITE) August 19, 2020
A massive social media backlash ensued after the initial revelation of ‘Cuties’ and its content.
Netflix, following the backlash, ran defense and changed the wording of the synopsis to reflect a more palatable plotline.
“Eleven-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew,” the synopsis update read.
Netflix changed the description from twerking to “free spirited dance crew.” pic.twitter.com/Lp6LujcqQf
— Sophia (Nuke Emoji) Narwitz (@SophNar0747) August 20, 2020
‘Cuties’ is not the first controversial film/program exhibiting controversial sexual overtones involving children.
Earlier this year, National File reported on another show featuring a 10-year-old drag queen that was joked about as being a top–the individual who is penetrating (giving) during homosexual intercourse.
