To me, the most unforgettable film from this semester was Cutie and the Boxer. It was so subtle, so quietly empowering and psychologically insightful, that it has stayed with me months later. I love how the film gave us a deceptive opening by focusing most on the husband, Ushio. Then, as we observe Noriko in the sidelines, there’s a moment in which we realize that this film is actually about her. Despite her status as her husband’s subordinate, she is so sure of her power. The differences between the couple manifest not only in their personalities, but also in their art. Ushio’s work is gargantuan, angry, masculine, violent. Noriko’s work is small-scale and easy to miss upon first glance—but once you look, you realize that she tells a story. The film is about both the domestic and the professional, the personal and the political. Ushio names their joint exhibition “Roar”. He thinks that in doing so, he describes the ferocity of his work. But in truth, the name is all about Noriko. She roars—quietly, but powerfully nonetheless. This film makes me wonder how many creative and intelligent women are obscured by the masculine artistic greats we so revere.