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BFI Film Classics
Thelma and Louise
Thelma and Louise sparked a remarkable public discussion about feminism, violence and the representation of women in cinema. Here, Sturken examines the production and reception of the film, and goes on to analyze its rich account of gender politics, landscape, and gun culture.
- GenresNonfictionFilmFeminism
94 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2000
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About the author
Marita Sturken
28 books12 followersMarita Sturken is a professor and chair in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. Her work spans the fields of cultural studies, visual culture, American studies, and memory studies with an emphasis on cultural memory, national identity, consumer culture, art, and the cultural effects of technology.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 12, 2024
"yet the film has established louise, rather than darryl or J.D., as the central relationship of thelma's life, and this scene makes clear that, for thelma, louise's collapse is a much more transformative event."
"in the codes of closeted lesbianism representation, a kiss between women on the screen, no matter how innocently it is presented on the surface, is a sign of lesbian desire. many viewers of thelma & louise have felt that the film allows for this interpretation: that the reason the two women can't go back to the world of patriarchal society is not only because of the law but because of their desire for each other."
"after all, they have been constructed in many ways as a couple, in particular in the film's playing off the conventions of the screwball genre, which always ends with the couple married. they have left their men and the world of men behind, hence their embrace solidifies their relationship, as all final screen kisses do."
as someone with a degree in closeted lesbianism representation, I can confirm this is indeed the case. bisexual icon susan sarandon also has stated that she believes louise would've been lesbian had she survived so yes...none of this "wow the power of female friendship" bullshit on my watch or susan's. thelma & louise created bisexual x lesbian solidarity and the undying need to love someone enough to liberate them amen!!
"in the codes of closeted lesbianism representation, a kiss between women on the screen, no matter how innocently it is presented on the surface, is a sign of lesbian desire. many viewers of thelma & louise have felt that the film allows for this interpretation: that the reason the two women can't go back to the world of patriarchal society is not only because of the law but because of their desire for each other."
"after all, they have been constructed in many ways as a couple, in particular in the film's playing off the conventions of the screwball genre, which always ends with the couple married. they have left their men and the world of men behind, hence their embrace solidifies their relationship, as all final screen kisses do."
as someone with a degree in closeted lesbianism representation, I can confirm this is indeed the case. bisexual icon susan sarandon also has stated that she believes louise would've been lesbian had she survived so yes...none of this "wow the power of female friendship" bullshit on my watch or susan's. thelma & louise created bisexual x lesbian solidarity and the undying need to love someone enough to liberate them amen!!
October 24, 2023
Between intention and expression there opens a great and harrowing gulf, we see this when Bret Easton Ellis says that American Psycho is not misogynist. Callie Khouri, screenwriter of Thelma & Louise, has a jaw sagging quote on page 73 here. She is talking about the famous ending of the movie:
It always struck me as preposterous that people saw it as suicide. I don’t even think of them as dead. I just wasn’t in any way prepared for people to say “God, they killed themselves? What kind of message is that?” I want to say “It’s the message you came up with, not me.” To me, the ending was symbolic, not literal. We did everything possible to make sure you didn’t see a literal death.
Well, they failed. Because when I see to women being chased by an army of cops, helicopters, the whole kit and caboodle, and they drive off the side of the Grand canyon, which is well known for being a very inadvisable thing to do, which is likely to cause a degree of harm to two people in a car who plunge to the bottom seeing as the Grand Canyon is 4000 feet deep, I like most of the dunderheads Callie is shocked by thought (when I had recovered the power of thought) “Thelma and Louise literally ran out of road and this was the final radical rejection of nasty patriarchal men, the most cruel but most appropriate ending there could be, wham, crash into the canyon – DEAD."
And this is such a smart script. But that is such a major misunderstanding of what the ending was intended to mean.
Perhaps the authors of movies and novels don’t always understand the works they themselves have created.
*
RANDOM NOTE
This two name title is a favourite of film makers, almost a cliché – Jules and Jim, Bonnie and Clyde, Harold and Maude, Minnie and Moskowitz, Cesar and Rosalie, Benny and Joon, Stan and Ollie, Jack and Sarah, Mikey and Nicky, Melvin and Howard, Harry and Tonto, Wendy and Lucy and Mary and Max. Just the ones I have seen.
It always struck me as preposterous that people saw it as suicide. I don’t even think of them as dead. I just wasn’t in any way prepared for people to say “God, they killed themselves? What kind of message is that?” I want to say “It’s the message you came up with, not me.” To me, the ending was symbolic, not literal. We did everything possible to make sure you didn’t see a literal death.
Well, they failed. Because when I see to women being chased by an army of cops, helicopters, the whole kit and caboodle, and they drive off the side of the Grand canyon, which is well known for being a very inadvisable thing to do, which is likely to cause a degree of harm to two people in a car who plunge to the bottom seeing as the Grand Canyon is 4000 feet deep, I like most of the dunderheads Callie is shocked by thought (when I had recovered the power of thought) “Thelma and Louise literally ran out of road and this was the final radical rejection of nasty patriarchal men, the most cruel but most appropriate ending there could be, wham, crash into the canyon – DEAD."
And this is such a smart script. But that is such a major misunderstanding of what the ending was intended to mean.
Perhaps the authors of movies and novels don’t always understand the works they themselves have created.
*
RANDOM NOTE
This two name title is a favourite of film makers, almost a cliché – Jules and Jim, Bonnie and Clyde, Harold and Maude, Minnie and Moskowitz, Cesar and Rosalie, Benny and Joon, Stan and Ollie, Jack and Sarah, Mikey and Nicky, Melvin and Howard, Harry and Tonto, Wendy and Lucy and Mary and Max. Just the ones I have seen.
September 20, 2020
Thankyou to Bloomsbury Australia for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever had a film that just stuck with you forever? I was a teenager in the 90’s and Thelma & Louise was one of my all time favourite movies. Not only was it one of the first movies I saw that showed kick-ass women, not only in a sci-fi, fantasy world way, but a real life, with real issues way, I remember thinking it was a film with the lot. Funny one moment and tragic and uncomfortable the next, it took me on a ride I’ll never forget.
This little book explores some of the themes in the movie and the subsequent feelings of the general public after it screened. It certainly caused a lot of conversation in its day – from those who loved it and saw it as the ultimate feminist movie, to those who saw it as a dangerous revenge film, that only sought to demonise and hate on men. No matter how much controversy it caused, it definitely got people talking. I loved the discussions about Thelma’s character arc in this book, I’ve always thought her transformation from a naive, slightly dippy housewife, under the control of her condescending husband, to a terrified women not knowing what to do and looking to Louise for all the answers, to a confident, charismatic character, who took the lead when she needed to, was amazing. At the time I was still used to seeing fairly one dimensional women characters in movies – they were the naive housewife or the tough chick or the smart girl etc, but not all.
And look, the women were the stars of the show, obviously, but did my heart still race just a little at the photo’s of hitchhiker JD (Brad Pitt) in the book? Yes ma’am it did.
If you’re a fan of Thelma & Louise and want a nostalgic trip down memory lane, pick up this cute little book, full of movie stills and memorable quotes, as well as an in-depth discussion of the thoughts behind the movie.
Have you ever had a film that just stuck with you forever? I was a teenager in the 90’s and Thelma & Louise was one of my all time favourite movies. Not only was it one of the first movies I saw that showed kick-ass women, not only in a sci-fi, fantasy world way, but a real life, with real issues way, I remember thinking it was a film with the lot. Funny one moment and tragic and uncomfortable the next, it took me on a ride I’ll never forget.
This little book explores some of the themes in the movie and the subsequent feelings of the general public after it screened. It certainly caused a lot of conversation in its day – from those who loved it and saw it as the ultimate feminist movie, to those who saw it as a dangerous revenge film, that only sought to demonise and hate on men. No matter how much controversy it caused, it definitely got people talking. I loved the discussions about Thelma’s character arc in this book, I’ve always thought her transformation from a naive, slightly dippy housewife, under the control of her condescending husband, to a terrified women not knowing what to do and looking to Louise for all the answers, to a confident, charismatic character, who took the lead when she needed to, was amazing. At the time I was still used to seeing fairly one dimensional women characters in movies – they were the naive housewife or the tough chick or the smart girl etc, but not all.
And look, the women were the stars of the show, obviously, but did my heart still race just a little at the photo’s of hitchhiker JD (Brad Pitt) in the book? Yes ma’am it did.
If you’re a fan of Thelma & Louise and want a nostalgic trip down memory lane, pick up this cute little book, full of movie stills and memorable quotes, as well as an in-depth discussion of the thoughts behind the movie.
September 24, 2018
I took a reverse approach to the book. Google recomended this all big time feminism movie to me and I ended up watching it. For once I knew that there would be more to it, than what the movie depicits. And I can tell you this small read is worth it.
Enjoyed reading as watching a female shoot at someone on a screen is much different than knowing why the action erupted, the thoughts behind, the emotional situation, the trauma, the reflexes... The book speaks more than feminism and one should certainly read it...
Enjoyed reading as watching a female shoot at someone on a screen is much different than knowing why the action erupted, the thoughts behind, the emotional situation, the trauma, the reflexes... The book speaks more than feminism and one should certainly read it...
May 10, 2023
The story, while primarily a thrilling adventure, also explores serious themes of freedom, friendship, and personal autonomy. Its commentary on society's treatment of women is biting and relevant, adding a layer of depth to the narrative.
Itinerary, quotes, pictures, POI can be found here https://www.honeyincoffee.com/all-abo...
Itinerary, quotes, pictures, POI can be found here https://www.honeyincoffee.com/all-abo...
December 28, 2025
LOVEDDDDDD this analysis so much. read it twice. will read again. put into words so many things i had been thinking about the film and also gave me new perspectives. highly recommend to anyone a fan of this story.
January 18, 2026
Pretty decent exploration of the gender-coding of the text and the controversy some felt towards it upon release (ridiculous arguments from complainants which are annihilated by Davis, Sarandon and writer Callie Khouri.
July 24, 2014
This concise little book is a sufficient analysis for the average moviegoer. The movie buffs and the big fans of "Thelma and Louise" will probably want to read a more meticulous book. The obvious subjects like feminism and strong femininity are discussed, among some other very interesting ideas. But for some those subjects might be a little too familiar. It did the job for me.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews