In the realm of fairy tales, the damsel in distress is a common trope, but Netflix’s ‘Damsel’ turns this narrative on its head.
The film, starring Millie Bobby Brown as Elodie, begins with a familiar scene—a prince rescuing a princess. However, it quickly becomes clear that this story will not follow the traditional path.
Elodie, promised to a prince in an arranged marriage, finds herself betrayed and thrown into a dragon’s lair, not for a heroic rescue, but as a sacrifice. The twist? Elodie must save herself. The film’s ending is a powerful testament to self-reliance and courage, as Elodie does not wait for a prince to save her. Instead, she confronts the dragon, uncovers the lies fed to the beast, and allies with it to reclaim her power.
The royal family of Aurea, including Queen Isabelle, has been sacrificing princesses to the dragon as a twisted form of tradition and retribution for past wrongs. Elodie’s survival and escape from the dragon’s cave are not just physical feats but also symbolic of breaking free from the chains of outdated customs and expectations.
‘Damsel’ ends with Elodie, having survived the dragon, confronting the royal family with her newfound ally. The dragon, once a feared enemy, becomes a symbol of Elodie’s strength and the power of understanding. Together, they bring justice to the deceitful royals, and Elodie emerges not just as a survivor, but as a hero in her own right.
The film concludes with a strong message about reclaiming one’s power and the importance of rewriting one’s story. Elodie’s journey from a pawn in a political game to a warrior queen is a modern fairy tale that inspires to become the heroes of our own stories.
