The Misandrists (2017) Info
Ultimately, The Misandrists functions as both a salute to the kinetic power of collective action and a warning against the narrowness of exclusionary politics. It remains a polarizing entry in LaBruce’s filmography, utilizing a "dread carnival" aesthetic to force audiences to confront the messy intersection of gender, revolution, and identity. 'The Misandrists' Review - Santa Fe Reporter
One of the film's most critical themes is its scrutiny of trans-exclusionary radical feminism (TERF). The Misandrists (2017)
The film's satirical edge is sharpest when exploring the premise of "female dictators" and the potential for any revolutionary movement to mirror the structures it seeks to overthrow. Ultimately, The Misandrists functions as both a salute
A trans enlistee within the FLA forces the group to broaden their narrow "essentialist praxis". The film's satirical edge is sharpest when exploring
Bruce LaBruce’s The Misandrists (2017) is a satirical, campy exploration of radical lesbian separatism that simultaneously celebrates and critiques feminist ideologies. Set in a fictionalized "Ger(wo)many," the film follows a cell of the Female Liberation Army (FLA), a goddess-worshipping commune led by the charismatic "Big Mother". While the film is wrapped in a "dirty eye" aesthetic typical of LaBruce's "queercore" roots, it delves into complex questions regarding gender essentialism, trans-inclusion, and the cyclical nature of oppression. The Satirical Lens of Radical Separatism
While some reviewers from Film Threat argue the film contains "more shock than substance," others praise it for using a salacious premise to tackle "big, knotty questions" about patriarchy and power.
Critics from Film Inquiry and itp Global Film note that the film's graphic sexual and surgical content—including a detailed reconstructive surgery sequence—serves to shock and provoke discussions on bodily autonomy.