itsnotmymind | Taken

So I've been browsing the TV Tropes entries for the film Taken, and discovered that someone on TV tropes thinks that Lenore is the "most unsympathetic character in the whole film" and that it is "entirely her fault that her daughter was kidnapped". Yes, in a film that has large number of actual human traffickers.

I don't think I need to spell out to anyone reading this why dubbing a difficult women less sympathetic than actual kidnappers is extremely misogynist, but this did inspire me to write my own thoughts on Lenore.

First of all, Lenore is clearly written to be a difficult character. She's very controlling. At Kim's birthday party, when Lenore doesn't want Bryan to go to the kids' section and when she objects to Bryan taking a picture - I really feel that is as much or more about her need to be in control as it is about her being angry at Bryan. She tells Bryan that Kim lies to him because he gives Kim no choice not to - but Kim lies to Lenore for the same reason. Lenore doesn't want her to be a singer, so Lenore doesn't know that's still Kim's dream.

Lenore and Kim lying to Bryan about Kim's actual travel plans is also a big deal. Kim is a teenager, but Lenore is an adult and should know better. In Lenore's defense, traveling teenagers rarely get kidnapped by human traffickers the day they show up in Paris. But telling a major lie like that to your co-parent is something I can't endorse.

Lenore has positive traits. She loves her daughter and wants what is best for her - making a valid point to Bryan that Kim while never learn what the rest of the world is like if she remains sheltered.

So yeah - it's not that Lenore isn't difficult. She is. But we as a society still struggle to acknowledge difficult women as full human beings.

(BTW I have not seen either of the sequels yet and would prefer not to be spoiled)