Zooey Deschanel defends ‘500 days of summer’
On several occasions, Summer was declared the villain in the film and many fans hated her character for years
One of the favorite movies of millennials, which they often repeat and which touches their souls in special ways, is certainly "500 days of Summer". Thirteen years after its premiere, this film continues to stir up discussions on the Internet, about the characters, in which the actors themselves often participate.
The film soared into the acting heavens of Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who played the role of a loving couple, whose romance and breakup we follow from his point of view.
Tom is a hopeless romantic who is desperate to find his soulmate. When he meets Summer, he falls head over heels in love, while she is determined to keep their relationship casual. Over time, it becomes clear to Summer that their relationship is shallow and unsustainable, while Tom maintains it only on the basis of their shared taste in movies and music. When the two break up, Tom falls into depression while Summer moves on and gets engaged.
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Because of all this, on several occasions, Summer was declared the villain in the film and many fans hated her character for years. Deschanel, who portrayed Summer, always defended her and in the last interview she again told the audience that they need to think a little deeper:
"When talking to fans, I always come across emotional discussions. People want these characters to be together, but it's the fact that they're not that makes the movie interesting. She has clearly told him multiple times that she doesn't want a relationship, but he ignores her. He takes everything personally and is occupied with what he wants. He's fixated on some irrelevant details, that have nothing to do with who she is as a person. To anyone who thinks Summer is a villain, I always say: look a little closer."
Both actors pointed out in the interviews that the biggest problem for the audience was probably that we watch the film from his perspective, and therefore we are more attached to his character. Overall, Summer was seen as a dashing and indecisive woman, unconcerned about Tom's emotional well-being. The actress highlights precisely the way Tom refuses to see Summer beyond the superficial details and as a result, does not value her as a person.
Some critics of the film have always looked back on Zooey Deschanel's portrayal of Summer as a sexist "manic pixie dream girl" slob. However, the actress defends herself, stating that roles for women are often written one-dimensionally and that it is her responsibility as an actress to bring complexity to the character. As the culture has changed over the last decade, there are now more opportunities for more complex female roles.
Post by: Rinna James
