Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007)
Directed by: Jamie Babbit
Premise: A young lesbian (Melonie Diaz) joins a radical feminist group and develops a crush on the organization’s leader (Nicole Vicius).
What Works: There is a lot to like about Itty Bitty Titty Committee. It has a revolutionary attitude about its style and it was clearly written by screenwriters who have a grasp of feminist politics and counter cultural sensibilities. The characters involved in the resistance group represent a cross section of potential lesbian identities or categories but at the same time they are all distinct and likeable and the script and the actors do a nice job of representing them as real people with flaws and desires. As a result, the film is able to diversify itself and avoid limiting its characters to gay stereotypes. The main character is played by Melonie Diaz and the actress does well creating empathy and allowing the audience a point of entry into this cabal of activists. The relationship that blossoms between Diaz and Vicius’ character is sweet and the film does not run away from their sexuality but does not linger on it unnecessarily either. The story effectively links the growth and decline of the romantic relationship to the growing consciousness of Diaz’s character and to the activities of the group. For the first two acts of its story, Itty Bitty Titty Committee intertwines these themes and plots together and its portrayal of interpersonal relationships and politics nicely complicate and comment upon one another.
What Doesn’t: Itty Bitty Titty Committee is not without its flaws. The revolutionary politics of the film are oversimplified and hampered by idealism; the characters are women who have just achieved a liberated consciousness and although their enthusiasm is part of the film’s charm it is also misleadingly optimistic about revolution. The ending of Itty Bitty Titty Committee is ludicrous, to say the least. Even taken as a metaphor, it threatens to derail the film. It does not because, as silly as it is, the climax is also very funny.
DVD extras: None.
Bottom Line: Itty Bitty Titty Committee makes for an enjoyable viewing. Even though its politics are rather elementary and the ending is flawed, the characters are highly watchable, the themes are engaging, and it should stimulate interesting conversation among its viewers.
Episode: #331 (March 20, 2011)