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Enola Holmes: A Feminist Masterpiece

Before watching said movie, I had only heard negative reviews. Ranging from, “it has no plot’,” to, “I don’t understand what the movie was trying to say,” was just some of the feedback I’d heard.

However, on the rare opportunity I had to watch a movie of my choice on the family’s big screen, the title Enola Holmes peaked my interest the most.

I agree that at time the plot may be challenging to follow, but I advise future watchers to pay attention to every detail - a skill that returns to the viewer well when watching movies. If you follow the above guideline until the end of the film, the plot is brilliant and quite unlike any I’ve seen before. It’s almost as if the directors wanted a film about detectives to be thoroughly investigated. A nod to their intelligent creativity.

There is much more to Enola Holmes than its plot, and it would be remiss of me not to mention it. These elements of the film have forged my love of it - the underlying message of feminism.

Brown, an incredible young English actress seems to be following in the footsteps of those before her; Emma Watson springs to mind. Mille Bobby Brown’s careful cultivation of roles that portray strong female role models is similar to Watson’s role decisions. The role of Enola is a perfect addition to that list.

Enola is inspiring, feisty and passionate. Most importantly, she cares for so many of those around her. Her story is a ‘historic’ coming of age one. It is set apart from others in the sense of how she grows - rather than learning how to be a true friend after some traumatic prom experience and picking up a lonely boy on the way, she is guided to carve her own journey by those who understand her struggles; struggles that are mimicked in our modern day society.

Enola saves the lord in lament, successfully plots, plans and performs and lives up to her famous older brother’s name, all whilst unknowingly being a pioneer in the fight for women’s rights. It’s remarkable because it gives people hope. It shows young girls what they’re capable of, and in times where hate is louder than love, it reminds us of why we do what we do. What we’re fighting for.

Each unknown riddle, whether express or implied, fuelled a fire that only can grow inside the world’s women - one that burnt viciously bright in Enola. Enola Holmes is the perfect exhibit of what a woman can be - a pretty face with a fierce and rebellious attitude, an intelligent mind with a heart that nurtures, and a free, wild spirit that can behave with poise and liberal class.

The film addresses the struggles of women in society in a variety of different ways. The obvious body shaming and the subtle nod to the difficulty of reclaiming of our bodies (the iconic dress shop scene) was cleverly explored in the cultural context. The expectations that we must meet to fit into society - the ones formed by the patriarchy who find it irrelevant that they have built a social prison. It’s extraordinary that the writers found such a clever way to incorporate the long-lasting epidemic of gender discrimination.

The way Enola harnesses her anger to change the course of her life and those around her is so authentic to audiences and inspires its impressionable viewers to make a difference. Enola Holmes is a feminist masterpiece because it threw a canister of petrol on the dimming flames of young women world wide.