# "Cuties" on Netflix **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608 "2020-08-20T21:57:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/41 "2020-09-10T21:27:44Z")
Natalie Portman was 13 when she made “Leon”…can’t the same arguments be made about Leon/The Professional? On top of the smoking and placing Portman in the pseudo sexual situations seen in Leon…there’s all the violence that i assume isn’t in “Cuties” I’ve seen people raise eyebrows over "Leon:…but i sure haven’t seen the shit hit the fan as seen in “Cuties” Is an 11 year old learning to twerk really worse then a 13 year propositioning a 40 year old who is grooming her to be an assassin? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/42 "2020-09-10T21:29:32Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Thought this was about those horrid little oranges. Horrid??? I love 'em. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/43 "2020-09-10T21:34:27Z")
morons miss the point … the film is about a social media obsessed immigrant 10 year old who sees things like all the girls dancing in groups on youtube like the ones on “dance moms” and imitates them to the point that she walks around dressed like them and starts hew own dance group hence the “cuties” tag [https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/cuties-controversy-does-netflixs-new-movie-deserve-the-backlash/ar-BB18PzlZ?ocid=SK2DDHP](https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/cuties-controversy-does-netflixs-new-movie-deserve-the-backlash/ar-BB18PzlZ?ocid=SK2DDHP) Have you seen dance moms ? i mean i’ve had friends who were exotic dancers watch the show and they say all some of the routines needed was a pole and the flashing lights infact one of them pointed out the teams had the girls wearing no underwear but wearing spandes so tight that all you had to do is know what to look for … ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/44 "2020-09-10T21:36:18Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > I came in here to talk about tangerines, so… IIRC, Cuties are Mandarin oranges, not tangerines. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/45 "2020-09-10T21:38:55Z")
Americans have forgot what ‘fiction’ and ‘context’ are. Fey cuts 30 Rock eps regardless of context People claim Sam Rockwell shouldnt win an Oscar because his CHARACTER (In 'Three Billboards…") is disgusting and now this…yeah, i definitely think its worthy of a discussion but not with the pearl-clutching vitriol i’ve seen, ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/46 "2020-09-10T21:42:09Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > Natalie Portman was 13 when she made “Leon”…can’t the same arguments be made about Leon/The Professional? On top of the smoking and placing Portman in the pseudo sexual situations seen in Leon…there’s all the violence that i assume isn’t in “Cuties” It’s funny you mention “Leon”, because it was released in America with many of those scenes cut or toned down because they tested poorly with American audiences. And it was also released pre-internet and social media, so it wasn’t as easy to rabble-rouse about movies back then. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/47 "2020-09-10T21:45:06Z")
I merged the two threads together. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/48 "2020-09-10T21:47:18Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/49 "2020-09-10T21:49:36Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I merged the two threads together. If someone starts a thread about the tangerines, will you merge that one in, too? Pretty please? ---
**Author:** ![YWTF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@YWTF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWTF)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/50 "2020-09-10T23:00:23Z")
Haven’t seen it but I’ve seen clips disturbing enough to make me side with those who are critical of it. Twerking and other provocative stripper movies are performed by the girls, and in one scene, the protagonist is actually shown taking a naked crotch shot of herself to text someone. Another scene features a bared breast. If you want to make a movie about the dangers of sexually objectifying kids, there’s a wrong and right way to do that. The wrong way actually showcases the sexual objectification ( which means exploiting juvenile actresses). The right way showcases the dangers. Anyone remember the Different Strokes episode with the pedo who molested Dudley? The molestation was depicted off-screen but the audience is given enough information to know what is happening. It would’ve been vile having it any other way. Subjecting a child actor to a sexual performance with an adult is stomach churning. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/51 "2020-09-10T23:05:38Z")
I saw a dance scene, not from the trailer, it was disgusting. Actual twerking, spreading the legs for a crotch shot for the audience, the “do you want me?” face. Maybe I’m a prude, but that is indefensible. ---
**Author:** ![YWTF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@YWTF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWTF)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/52 "2020-09-10T23:18:29Z")
You are not a prude. I’m surprised to see anyone defending this movie. The clips I saw on Twitter literally made my skin crawl. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/54 "2020-09-10T23:37:22Z")
My question is, why are we talking about child sexual exploitation when we could be talking about tangerines? ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/55 "2020-09-11T12:07:52Z")
I like the song quite a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/56 "2020-09-11T13:29:30Z")
Well, she _is_ all they claim. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/57 "2020-09-11T15:51:33Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > My question is, why are we talking about child sexual exploitation when we could be talking about tangerines? I haven’t seen [Tangerine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangerine_(film)) yet but I hear it’s pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/58 "2020-09-11T17:57:11Z")
So if a character in a film is assaulted or raped or murdered, do you think the actor portraying that character has actually been assaulted or raped or murdered? Of course not. While I realize that with an underage actress playing a character who is sexualized and exploited, the line may get a bit blurrier - but there is still a line. Movies are not real life. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/59 "2020-09-11T20:07:08Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > saw a dance scene, not from the trailer, it was disgusting. Actual twerking, spreading the legs for a crotch shot for the audience, the “do you want me?” face. > > Maybe I’m a prude, but that is indefensible. I take it you’ve never seen dance moms type shows or any of the aerobic dance competitions on ESPN ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/60 "2020-09-11T21:11:41Z")
Do they film with focus on crotch shots? Because that’s what got to me. I am out of the loop. I watched this today not knowing there was a big controversy. I about fell over myself running to the dope to see if anyone else saw it because…and let me make this clear, I am a very liberal and progressive person who has a daughter who has been in to dance and flow arts since she was a kid… I was shocked by the imagery. This movie’s PURPOSE was sexualizing 11 year olds. That was the point. That’s why crotch shots were abundant. That’s why the camera focused on scantily clad children humping the floor and spanking each other. There was a message in this movie that was loud and clear. The girl was tormented by the same torment so many of us have felt. She was also struggling with her mother’s issues, her father’s new wife, being in a parenting role to her siblings, being new, being foreign, etc. She wanted to be liked and appreciated. She wanted to be part of something. It was a wonderful story I loved. I related to so much of it. But those short-short crotch shots were too much. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608/61 "2020-09-11T22:00:01Z")
I’m reminded of long-running sitcoms from the 80s and 90s (and beyond, but possibly not today). There is typically an episode where once the young daughter of the series hits puberty she starts wearing something really tight and/or tiny, and the parents blow a gasket. But in the meantime they _really_ linger on showing the outfit. It is like “How scandalous that a 13-year would wear an outfit like this, just look at it! Okay, look at it some more. And some more…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuties-on-netflix/918608.md?page=4)