{"id":24893,"date":"2020-09-28T08:56:33","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T00:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.teampcheng.com\/blog\/?p=24893"},"modified":"2021-01-02T21:24:15","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T13:24:15","slug":"enola-holmes-delightful-and-empowering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.teampcheng.com\/blog\/entertainment\/movies-entertainment\/movie-review-movies\/enola-holmes-delightful-and-empowering\/","title":{"rendered":"Enola Holmes: Delightful and Empowering!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image courtesy of Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Successfully brings modern day themes on feminism and equality to Victorian England. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy life is my own and the future is up to us\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a lot of nieces and \u201cEnola Holmes\u201d is something that I would want them to see. The film is Rated 13 and one of those films targeted for a younger audience but something that adults can still enjoy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s never easy to be related to someone famous. Now, imagine being the sister of the world’s most famous detective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Enola Holmes” which drops on Netflix on September 23 starring Millie Bobby Brown and based on the Nancy Springer books is a well made film fit for a younger audience but it is still something that adults can enjoy. Fans of Sherlock Holmes (such as myself) would be curious enough to check it out and it’s very strong supportive cast – Henry Cavill (Sherlock), Sam Claifflin (Mycroft)  and Helena Bonham Carter as their mother Eudoria would certainly draw an older age group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image courtesy of Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Being brought up by their eccentric mother, Enola did not have the traditional upbringing expected of young ladies in the 1800s, instead her mother taught her self-defense, science and encouraged reading. Girls the same age as Enola were expected to know how to knit and sew and embroider, things which Enola cannot<\/em> do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On her 16th birthday Enola wakes up to find her mother gone. This prompts the two elder Holmes brothers to return to their childhood home and look in on their sister, whom they haven\u2019t seen in years. Mycroft takes on Enola as his ward, while Sherlock is tasked to find mum.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Tis I<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we get carried away by the impressive supportive cast, “Enola Holmes” is not about Sherlock’s younger sister, but rather, it’s about Enola, herself. It’s about a sixteen year old girl, finding her own place in Victorian England, without having to follow what society dictates and expects of a young girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Mycroft\u2019s ward, Enola is to be sent to a proper finishing school, where she can learn how to laugh correctly, how to walk correctly, how to be prim and proper,which will all help in her ultimate goal of getting a suitable husband and raising two healthy boys. All of which are nothing remotely to what Enola wants, which is to search for her mother and help a certain Viscount Tewksberry who is apparently in grave danger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh good God. Feminism.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of having Eudoria run off to live with the Romani people as she did in the book, the film has her be the head of a brewing feminism movement. And we do find a lot of themes on feminism and equality in the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An often shared quote in the film is a tea-room exchange between Sherlock and an acquaintance of his mother (also an undercover feminitst) who says: \u201cPolitics doesn\u2019t interest you, because you have no interest in changing a world that suits you so well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mic drop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enola goes beyond lip-service when she fights for equal rights. It is not enough for her to merely \u201csave the pretty boy\u201d and be on her merry way. Saving that pretty boy, whose vote is vital in the passing of the Reform Act, which will help pave the way for women\u2019s suffrage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was also a scene in the movie which I appreciated because it promoted positive body image, as Enola is being measured for gowns to wear, the school headmistress shows her disappointment that her body measurements \u201cweren\u2019t enough\u201d to which Enola responds that they are and I believe that this scene makes the point that girls are more than just their physical appearance and measurements and I think that that is such an important message for young girls to hear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did forget to mention in the vlog review – <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Enola Holmes MILLIE BOBBY BROWN Image courtesy of Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Millie Bobby Brown is so endearing and charming as Enola Holmes, she successfully breaks the fourth wall, addressing her audience, letting them in on her thoughts and secrets and she does it so well. It\u2019s a refreshing take in an otherwise straight up typical narrative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yes, you can check out the vlog for more thoughts on the movie! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please subscribe to the YouTube Channel! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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