Bridget Jones phenomenon

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Popular movie heroine - a loser or a destroyer of stereotypes? Viewers' and experts' opinions about Bridget Jones' personal life, outfits and career.

Millions of women around the world are ready to admit: “Bridget is me”. Successful and not so successful, single and married, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds, 40-year-olds and 50-year-olds, it would seem, not at all similar to the movie character Renee Zellweger, neither externally nor in deeds, fell in love with her “as she is . And along with it, and that part of yourself that is not ideal and now and then gets into comical situations.

“Curiosities in life should be experienced as she is. In a bunny suit, so in a bunny suit! Elena, 33 years old

Loser Cult - Women's Right to Make Mistakes

20 years ago, a book by the English journalist Helen Fielding "Bridget Jones's Diary" was published. And 5 years later, there was a film that made the author famous all over the world. In it, 32-year-old Bridget Jones, tired of the hints of others about the "ticking clock" and the attempts of her parents to bring her with another bachelor Mark Darcy, starts a diary in which she frankly writes about her doubts, failures, love torments, excess weight and smoked cigarettes.

Many times Bridget fails in public, is disappointed in love and enchanted again, and at the end we will have an unforgettable run of the heroine after the man of her dreams.

“In the finale, snow is falling, she is half naked, in some kind of incomprehensible underpants, a kiss. The main thing that I learned from this film is not to be afraid to be yourself, like Bridget. You can be silly, lurid, with extra pounds or without them, and this will not prevent you from meeting your man and being happy with him. Exactly what you are, without any embellishment, you will take it. Larisa, 24 years old

With her sneakers on her bare feet, Bridget tramples not just in the snow, but also according to the stereotypes of society. A real woman should: cook deliciously, do not drink, do not smoke, do not swear, do not make mistakes, always be at a height, well-groomed and slender, like a model … And of course, on time (preferably before 30) meet her soul mate, build a happy family and become mom. Such is the female "Matrix", from which many are trying to escape all their lives.

Bridget with her blue lace soup, falling out of a taxi after meeting friends at a bar and having an affair in the workplace, and even with her boss, of course, not Neo in this "Matrix". But she's one of those rebels who reminds us that life isn't perfect and that's okay.

Elena Rykhalskaya, psychotherapist, candidate of psychological sciences, author of the book "Love in a woman's life":

Bridget Jones is a unique female image that embodies the complexes of most women. Someone is complete and cannot cope with addiction to food, someone always finds himself in stupid situations, someone looks ridiculous, someone is not all right with taste, someone behaves like a fool or a victim … The phenomenon of "a woman's strength in her weakness" works one hundred percent - interesting men fall in love with Bridget.

The power of this tale is obvious and is everyone's dream - you can be ugly, behave in a foolish way - the prince on a white horse is still yours. And moreover - not in spite of, but because you are like that, others do not interest him.

Bridget Jones is an absolute alternative to those ideal and artificial, similar to each other images of women who have set the teeth on edge not only for women, but also for men. However, when watching comedies, you need to remember that every character in the movie is exaggerated to make the viewer interesting. Therefore, women in real life need to adhere to the golden mean between a silly fool and an ideal woman. And even better - to be able to transform according to the situation. Men love the ridiculous or the perfect, but stay with those who are diverse.

Bridget Jones - a career on emotions

The film has a small male audience. These are mainly those who watched the film with their girlfriend.

“My boyfriend impressed me at the very beginning of my acquaintance by watching this film. After that I decided to take a closer look at him. Olga, 35 years old

Some men think Bridget is crazy, others - crazy in a good way. If at first she tries to correspond to the ideas of a seductive woman or a good professional, then she goes her own way. Mark Darcy likes her at the moment when he stops "keeping the style."

Bridget sincerely wants to become a professional, but instead flirts with her boss in official correspondence, listens to her friend's sobs on the work phone, and fails a public speech. And she quits, learning that the boss is spinning a parallel romance and is already engaged to another.

Denis Kuznetsov, career development specialist, businessman:

Bridget demonstrates in the film a vivid example of an emotional career. The main motive for changing jobs and areas of activity is her mood. I wanted to annoy my boss and change something in my life. In addition, a new position on TV seemed to her "more prestigious" and "more effective" for finding the man of her dreams.

Bridget's typical mistake when changing jobs is not to figure out what is really important for her in her work, where, in what team and in what position her talents will be fully revealed. It is easy to fall for the "prestige" bait, but it is difficult to get out later and it is a pity for the wasted time.

Bridget's strength is that she is ready to take risks and try herself in a new place, in a new capacity. Thus, she gains invaluable experience and new pleasant and useful acquaintances.

Can a weirdo start a family?

In the second part of the film franchise called "Edge of Reason" Bridget is already in a relationship with Mark Darcy, but has not yet received the coveted offer. They decide to part because of their conflicting views, which, upon more thoughtful consideration, turned out to be insignificant. She again arranges a chase after Mark and receives a marriage proposal.

The fans and critics took the second film much cooler.

“To my mind, the behavior of a 33-year-old woman is too childish. These checks, these suspicions. Well, at least in prison she realized how stupid it was. Lyudmila, 29 years old

12 years ago, we left the heroine with the promise of a wedding at the Edge of Reason. In 2013, Helen Fielding's sequel, Crazy About the Boy, was released, in which Bridget - 51-year-old widow of Mark Darcy, mother of two - meets a young guy from Twitter. The death of a "good guy", a reliable and positive lawyer was not accepted by all fans of Bridget Jones's diaries.

And now we are presented with the missing link - the story of how the heroine first becomes a mother. On September 15, the third film, Bridget Jones's Baby, is released in theaters.

In the new film, Bridget once again challenges social norms. First, she was unable to maintain a relationship with Mark Darcy and again alone. Secondly, at 43, she becomes a mother, but is not sure who the father of the child is - her ex or a new chosen one?

A fresh story about Bridget once again relieves the stress of high expectations in women. The heroine does not succeed in following the generally accepted chain: to meet the man of her dreams - to marry him - to give birth and raise children - to grow old together.

The modern woman may not have "lived happily ever after," says author Helen Fielding. It's not always the same. Someone has several marriages, several men of dreams. Someone's loneliness can drag on for 10 years. Someone gives birth to a child without a husband. Life is unpredictable and never gives guarantees. And together with the heroine of the film, one can only laugh at this.

It was decided to keep the intrigue, who is the father, to the last. The actors starred in three different versions of the ending, and Helen Fielding's book "Bridget Jones's Baby" will be released this time later than the film, only in mid-autumn.

New Bridget Jones

At the world premiere, the film has already been seen by some critics. So far, the motion picture is being praised. They also note that Bridget has matured and become more interesting, and that she has clearly improved her professionalism and her image.

Elena Milovidova, personal stylist, shopper:

In the first film, the heroine is looking for herself, trying to understand what kind of man she needs. This is reflected in her style as well. By nature, Bridget appreciates comfort and convenience, she is funny and active, while she hears from everywhere that in order to find a man, you need to dress sexy. Hence the extremes: either gray jackets or a bunny suit.

She feels uncomfortable in skirts, does not know how to choose their appropriateness, style and length. For her character and demeanor, especially in work situations, it would be better to choose straight or tight jeans and wear them with shoes with thick, stable heels or with ballet flats. This would give her confidence and stability in the literal and figurative sense of the word.

And femininity can be added to the image with the help of blouses and tops that slightly reveal the neckline, which, given her body type, can become the main (and better, the only one, so as not to overdo it) accent.

At first, the heroine is full of contradictions: this was most clearly manifested in the famous choice of underwear: slimming or tiger, ideal for a mythical image or cool with pleasure for herself.

It is characteristic that at the moment of the fateful choice, when Bridget runs after Mark Darcy, she is wearing tiger panties - she chooses passion, real herself, alive and wins.

In the second film, she turns from a street Englishwoman into a classic Englishwoman: the gray coat now fits well to the figure, comfortable trousers and long elegant dresses have appeared. Now Bridget is more confident in herself as a woman.

The third film reveals a grown-up heroine who knows her worth: noble and at the same time bright colors appear in outfits: blue, green, white. And in Bridget's hands, you can see the bag of the famous British brand Mulberry.

Graceful low heels, jewelry appear for the first time and go very well with the heroine.

The style is gradually transforming from an eccentric mix into the most real urban chic, elegance has been added even to the images in a natural style.

One of the main questions that worried fans and critics is whether actress Renee Zellweger will be able to feel her character in the same way after a 12-year hiatus? And is it possible to believe again that Bridget is on the screen? Before the release of the new film, even more than the plot, the changes in the appearance of the actress for the main role were discussed.

Well, society always has some expectations and stereotypes. The magic of cinema brings them to the point of absurdity. You can strive to comply, you can freeze from self-doubt and doubt where it is safe. Or you can move forward a little, believing that tomorrow will be better.

Are you going to watch the new movie?