Thank you for writing this. I walked into this film not knowing anything about the Wicked books or musical. As a Black nonbinary intuitive, I was devastated the whole time. How Elpheba is treated brought up so much grief around my own trauma as an intuitive marginalized person. By the end of the movie, I couldn't feel the victory of "Defying Gravity". I didn't want any of my white friends to text me about the film, not even the ones I really trust. I think I just need a channel for my grief first. I feel like your writing and clarity about what happened in this movie (and there's certainly more to talk about) gives me a bit of that space to feel less alone about what I saw in the theatre. So, thank you ❤️💔
Powerful synopsis of a brilliant, outstanding movie. Your words magnify this film’s purpose, its raw beauty, and its glaring reflection of the sins in our society perpetuated by the elite, white, privileged upper class. It exposes the gross harm of fascism, and those that enable it. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us. Heartfelt appreciation and gratitude.
Thank you for this extraordinary analysis, Frederick. You captured something I've been wrestling with since seeing the film - how Glinda's power operates through the permission to choose, to shape narratives (I wrote about that unsettling moment where she picks the yellow brick road's color). While my piece explored how we perform palatability to maintain that permission, your framework of white feminism and complicity exposes the deeper machinery at work. Especially loved your observation about how "her charm, her dazzling smile, her effortless way of disarming criticism" aren't markers of goodness but of systematic privilege. This is the kind of cultural criticism that makes me excited to be writing about film.
Absolutely brilliant analysis of the film. Watching it I kept asking myself the question I’ve been asking since Trump was reelected - how much am I willing to lose to stand up for what’s right? As a Latine trans person I’m already on the fringes a bit, but I know there will be so much to loudly stand up for in the coming four years, and I have been constantly interrogating myself on the ways that I sometimes hold back out of fear - not attending protests, that kind of thing. It’s a poignant reminder to get braver and take a stand, even if it costs everything. For all these reasons it felt like a brilliantly and painfully relevant look at the structures of power and privilege, who gets to have access to care, respect, basic dignity, equal rights, and ‘humanity’ (I use this in quotes because of the animal plot line), and who gets demonized and painted as a ‘t€rr0rist’ or ‘enemy of the state’ for fighting for dignity and equity of all beings.
As ever, this story feels like a reckoning, and one that our world needs now more than ever. I just hope enough people truly see and truly hear. And because of these reminders I will continue to challenge myself day by day to choose what’s right, instead of what’s easy.
I think the movie did a better job of conveying Glinda’s performative allyship and the devastation of her betrayal than the stage play. The micro facial expressions from Cynthia felt so relatable.
Thank you so much for taking time to write this. I have seen the movie twice and truly can’t stop thinking about it. I truly appreciate your thoughts and completely agree on all accounts. I think I will be processing this movie for quite some time. I can’t wait for part two either!
Brilliant! I wrote about this as well, watching Wicked was very triggering for me and made me reflect a lot on the friendships I've had with white women that did not last because they turned out to be Glindas.
Thank you for this piece. It’s so well-written and it totally prepared me to see the film yesterday. I found myself laughing with loathing of the white fragility and privilege of Glinda; and wanting to cry as I related to Elpheba’s marginalization and the devastation she tried to suppress and keep up “the face” as she moved through a white-centric educational institution. There’s more that I could say about the film, which I think is a masterpiece. But I’ll just say that it gives you so much to think about that I’m going to see it again.
I found watching Glinda equally horrifying and uncomfortable - as a white woman it was such a glaring light shone on our failings and our vulnerability to complicity. As a marginalised non binary queer person I also identified with Elphaba after reading the book and seeing the musical, but the added nuance of Cynthia felt so right and so timely…masterfully done. Loved this analysis, it reflects everything I was thinking and feeling while watching. Thank you for your words x
Thank you for writing this. I walked into this film not knowing anything about the Wicked books or musical. As a Black nonbinary intuitive, I was devastated the whole time. How Elpheba is treated brought up so much grief around my own trauma as an intuitive marginalized person. By the end of the movie, I couldn't feel the victory of "Defying Gravity". I didn't want any of my white friends to text me about the film, not even the ones I really trust. I think I just need a channel for my grief first. I feel like your writing and clarity about what happened in this movie (and there's certainly more to talk about) gives me a bit of that space to feel less alone about what I saw in the theatre. So, thank you ❤️💔
Why do you write 'black' with upper case b and 'white' with lower case w?
https://www.cjr.org/analysis/capital-b-black-styleguide.php
You're just anti-White, aren't you? A typical White liberal woman who hates her own race and heritage.
lots of assumptions being made here. i'm not even white or liberal. i definately made a mistake in assuming you were asking with good intent.
Powerful synopsis of a brilliant, outstanding movie. Your words magnify this film’s purpose, its raw beauty, and its glaring reflection of the sins in our society perpetuated by the elite, white, privileged upper class. It exposes the gross harm of fascism, and those that enable it. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us. Heartfelt appreciation and gratitude.
Thank you for this extraordinary analysis, Frederick. You captured something I've been wrestling with since seeing the film - how Glinda's power operates through the permission to choose, to shape narratives (I wrote about that unsettling moment where she picks the yellow brick road's color). While my piece explored how we perform palatability to maintain that permission, your framework of white feminism and complicity exposes the deeper machinery at work. Especially loved your observation about how "her charm, her dazzling smile, her effortless way of disarming criticism" aren't markers of goodness but of systematic privilege. This is the kind of cultural criticism that makes me excited to be writing about film.
Because you are anti-White.
Absolutely brilliant analysis of the film. Watching it I kept asking myself the question I’ve been asking since Trump was reelected - how much am I willing to lose to stand up for what’s right? As a Latine trans person I’m already on the fringes a bit, but I know there will be so much to loudly stand up for in the coming four years, and I have been constantly interrogating myself on the ways that I sometimes hold back out of fear - not attending protests, that kind of thing. It’s a poignant reminder to get braver and take a stand, even if it costs everything. For all these reasons it felt like a brilliantly and painfully relevant look at the structures of power and privilege, who gets to have access to care, respect, basic dignity, equal rights, and ‘humanity’ (I use this in quotes because of the animal plot line), and who gets demonized and painted as a ‘t€rr0rist’ or ‘enemy of the state’ for fighting for dignity and equity of all beings.
As ever, this story feels like a reckoning, and one that our world needs now more than ever. I just hope enough people truly see and truly hear. And because of these reminders I will continue to challenge myself day by day to choose what’s right, instead of what’s easy.
Thank you for your insights. I look forward to watching the film with your perspective held in my heart. 💛
I think the movie did a better job of conveying Glinda’s performative allyship and the devastation of her betrayal than the stage play. The micro facial expressions from Cynthia felt so relatable.
Yes, all of this.
This movie really proved to be so timely. Thanks for this awesome and insightful review.
Thank you for this!
Both insightful and beautifully written
Thank you so much for taking time to write this. I have seen the movie twice and truly can’t stop thinking about it. I truly appreciate your thoughts and completely agree on all accounts. I think I will be processing this movie for quite some time. I can’t wait for part two either!
Brilliant! I wrote about this as well, watching Wicked was very triggering for me and made me reflect a lot on the friendships I've had with white women that did not last because they turned out to be Glindas.
Thank you for this thoughtful analysis
Thank you for this piece. It’s so well-written and it totally prepared me to see the film yesterday. I found myself laughing with loathing of the white fragility and privilege of Glinda; and wanting to cry as I related to Elpheba’s marginalization and the devastation she tried to suppress and keep up “the face” as she moved through a white-centric educational institution. There’s more that I could say about the film, which I think is a masterpiece. But I’ll just say that it gives you so much to think about that I’m going to see it again.
Anyone who uses terms such as 'white privilege' should be incarcerated.
Go away!
Shove off, creep
I won’t continue to engage with you. A lot of projection on your part. And you WILL NOT disturb my peace.
What a brilliant analysis of perhaps the best movie I’ve seen all year.
I found watching Glinda equally horrifying and uncomfortable - as a white woman it was such a glaring light shone on our failings and our vulnerability to complicity. As a marginalised non binary queer person I also identified with Elphaba after reading the book and seeing the musical, but the added nuance of Cynthia felt so right and so timely…masterfully done. Loved this analysis, it reflects everything I was thinking and feeling while watching. Thank you for your words x