Nappily ever after is Netflix’s latest romantic comedy. Being released at the end of september the movie has been surrounded with polemics and has the critics opinion divided. Even though, it’s possible to say that it’s main theme it’s really important and after many mistakes, like Insatiable or even the second season of Thirteen Reasons Why, Netflix finally got it right.
The story focus on Violet Jones and her journey of self-discovery and empowerment. At first we see how her mother’s insecurities became hers too: It starts portraying her childhood and how her mother, Paulette, was always worried about her appearance and would straighten Vi’s hair daily, a habit that would persist till her womanhood. While the other kids were playing and running around the pool, Violet could only watch them otherwise people would see her natural hair.
Vi then becomes the kind of girl that wakes up earlier than her partner just to work on her hair, apply makeup and make her think she’s flawless at all times as if it was an obligation, and I’m not trying blame her for that, because it’s just the reflection of our sexist society. But when Jones is around other people, it looks like she’s got it all figured out: she’s gorgeous, she’s has a successful career, a handsome boyfriend and everybody likes her, but we can see how her lifestyle is slowly destroying her. She can’t even enjoy sitting outside with her friends because she’s sure it’s going to rain.
Image Source: IMDb
Everything starts going wrong at Violet’s life till she gets to the point of shaving her head while being drunk. This is probably the most powerful scene from the whole movie, as the actress Sanaa Lathan actually shaved her head just for this part. When Vi gets rid of her hair it’s like she’s ready to start again, to connect with herself and change all the old habits and all that was holding her back. Of course it takes a while.
The movie is divided in 5 parts according to Violet’s hair: straightened, blonde, bald, new growth and nappily, portraying her exterior during her journey. It brings out important topics like self-esteem and how beauty standards interferes on most woman lives in a very hard way. There’s a little bit of romance too, but that’s not the most important thing, as Vi sees she doesn’t need a man to be happy – something so many more movies should portray.
And finally, Jones starts to change the environment around her too by confronting her peers at work for being sexist and just by wearing her natural hair proudly. ‘Nappily Ever After’ meets the expectations after all.