Embodied Cinema "Objectification"

For this blog task, I will be discussing how the concept of “objectification” can be seen within the film “Talk to Her” (2002, Pedro Almodover). The idea of objectification in film is typically linked to film examination where a specific character or set of characters are shown as being more similar to objects than actual human beings. This is commonly done by showing these characters as being passive.

As far as "Talk to Her", a character that most fits this idea of objectification is Alicia. Generally, Alicia is shown to be in hospital in a vegetative state under the care of the male nurse Benigno. While in this state, she cannot do anything for herself, for example, act or feel and she totally depends on Benigno to keep her perfect and alive. This conforms to John Berger's statement on men appearing as the active characters on camera whilst women are represented as the passive characters as it is Benigno who is the active male looking after Alicia whilst she is passive relying on his care.

Being in prison Beningo is represented as passive as the guards of the prison oppress him. Away from the presence of Benigno and being out of her vegetative state, Alicia is now represented as being active although she still requires some care from her mother. This shows how by removing the male dominance from the scene, the woman is capable of being active herself but only when the male is absent.

As well, being represented as a passive object, Alicia is also represented as a sexual object to the spectators and Benigno, as well. This uncomfortable feeling gets worse when we get a look inside Benigno’s apartment and the audience learn of his infatuation with Alicia’s body, we get shown this though the pictures of Alicia's body all over the apartment. This shows the audience that she is shown to be an object used by Benigno for sexual pleasure without her being able to have any thoughts on feelings on the matter; just like an object.

Obviously, objectification is used within “Talk to Her” in order to show Alicia as both a passive object and an object of sexual desire. By doing this, this allows the male audience to gain satisfaction out of her character as not only are they able to reinforce their own dominance but they are also able to gain sexual gratification from her character as well.