"Girl in the Spider's Web": A Must-See for Men and Women

This movie contains an intense and unpredictable plot and an amazing cast, but it also presents a few lessons.
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“The Girl in the Spider’s Web” has recently hit theatres to cast author Stieg Larsson’s wellknown character into a new, brighter light.

Claire Foy takes the role of Lisbeth in the new movie. Lisbeth is a complete contrast to Foy’s most famous role as the Queen of England in the Netflix series “The Crown.” As the Queen, Foy is delicate, soft spoken, and gentle with almost everything she comes into contact with.

Lisbeth has none of these traits on the surface. She comes off like a superhero who comes in whenever someone is in need. Most of the people she helps come from an abusive background or relationship. One of the opening scenes revolves around her saving a woman from an abusive man. This is one characteristic that could make the movie very appealing to women in the 21st century.

Not only does the movie have a strong and relentless female lead, it also portrays women helping women. The film exemplifies the need for women to stick together in troubling times. From the very beginning Lisbeth tries to stand up for her fellow female. In the opening scene, audiences get a glimpse of the abusive relationship Lisbeth and her sister Camilla went through with their father. Lisbeth tries to stand up to her father, but he ends up influencing her sister to stay with him while Lisbeth runs.

Although Lisbeth breaks free from the shackles of her father’s rage, she still carries the anxiety from her past with her as she goes through her life. While she acts like the broken relationship does not sting anymore, it is evident that she struggles with the pain from it. At one point, she finds a picture of her sister and ends up throwing it away. This scene ends up having an impact in the end.

As the movie progresses and Lisbeth tries to fight against her antagonists, she begins to show some concern for the people around her, including Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist, and August Balder, a little boy who gets caught in the midst of the fighting. When Lisbeth and August are left alone, it seems as if she develops a motherly bond over him. This could be a clue that she is not really completely insensitive and emotionless.

Another instance of her emotions shows up near the end of the movie when she and her sister meet again. Camilla explains that Lisbeth’s leaving and never coming back to save her made her feel alone and forgotten. This connects back to the scene when Lisbeth throws the picture of Camilla away. Lisbeth reveals that she did not realize Camilla wanted to be saved and to have a real, sisterly relationship.

Lisbeth’s realization gives insight into something society should learn. Yes, this movie has incredible action scenes, an intense and unpredictable plot, and an amazing cast, but it also presents a few lessons. One thing to be learned from the movie deals with women supporting each other. When females turn against each other and point out weaknesses, people get hurt. It is better to build one another up.

Another lesson to learn comes from the ending scene between Lisbeth and Camilla. If Lisbeth would have done more to rekindle their relationship, the two may not be in the spot they are in now. People should not wait for verbal indications to get involved with other people’s problems. Waiting to help could lead to a disaster. Get involved as soon as signs of distress come about. Take the initiative to make a change at first sights of trouble.

Whether the movie is meant to be didactic or not cannot be proven just yet, but there are definitely lessons to be learned. This is the type of movie both women and men need to see in today’s culture.