Scarlett Johansson and Natasha Romanoff grew up together. They had known each other for a decade and from the very first day, the actress put herself in the body of the Black Widow who, somehow, they became one. Unlocking that universe also tells the story of Yelena (Florence Pugh), Alexei, the Red Guard (David Harbour), and Melina (Rachel Weisz) and delves into the past that somehow builds this arc of characters who years later will be able to sacrifice for the world.
But Black Widow is also a film directed by a woman (Australian Cate Shortland) that shows the paths of two other women who work to free hundreds of women. In a context where female empowerment is at the center of the scene and in the comic world, where women – including Natasha – are often treated as objects, this story is more than just a possible spin-off of characters. It’s the evolution of a heroine who is also going through changes in her personal life (“I’m a mom,” she says) and who is ready to tackle her own story.
Zooming in, the actresses see details of the film in which they play two Russian spies who are trained to kill and who want to break free from the past. For Scarlett, this film seems to describe her feelings for independence from the so-called Scarjo Nudes scandal.
While Natasha manages to do so, by joining the world of SHIELD and later the Avengers, Melina has just woken up and, after discovering a conspiracy driven by the evil Dreykove (Ray Winstone), seeks out her adopted sister to free herself and the others (the girls who have through the same thing as them). “I think for Cate (Shortland), the director, it’s very important to tell a story about two women who support each other and work together. The easiest way is to make up a story about two rivals, someone who wants to cover up Natasha or take her powers from her. I don’t feel like women basically work that way and that seems to be a game-changer for men,” Scarlett said with a laugh.
But things weren’t always the same for her. She recently spoke about the sexualization of Romanoff, when she was treated like a “piece of meat” in her first appearance in Iron Man 2 and the place she took after more than a decade of being a part of the Marvel universe. “The characters evolve, I mean: ten years is a long time in pop culture, it’s huge, it’s a decade! Many bad things happen in society, culture is a reflection of it. And I have also grown and become a woman, in the decades that have passed.”
“When I started working in the Marvel universe I was 23 years old, I was a young woman, now I’m a mother. I think Natasha’s journey is a reflection of my own journey, I was very lucky to be able to trace this woman’s life for a decade. I don’t know under how many other circumstances she could have had this opportunity as an actress. Also being able to contribute to the creative process is both unusual and exciting. This is a personal journey and fiction,” said Johansson, who is also the film’s executive producer.
Black Widow finished filming in 2019, before the pandemic, but its premiere was postponed three times due to the inconvenience the film industry is experiencing as a result of measures to contain the coronavirus. This is the second Marvel Studios film about a heroine, the first being Captain Marvel. It was shot over 87 days in London, Norway, Budapest, Morocco, and Atlanta, with choreographed fights, motorbike stunts, chases, and even parachute scenes.
To tackle Natasha’s story, they chose to place the plot after the events recounted in Captain America: Civil War, but in reality, it’s not just about her but about her entire fictional family, the Red Room, the Cold War, and, by definition, the unbreakable brotherhood. by worst practice, distance, or chips to control the mind. Natasha is able to break free and choose her own side, but, when she finds herself alone again, her past comes to question her. It was on that road that he met Yelena again and they went together in search of the Red Guards to end up again at the family table with Melina. Together, the four of them set out to end the conspiracy with Dreykove, uncover the truth behind Taskmaster, and free the other Black Widows.
In this film of course there is action, but there is also a different quest. Beyond the initial confrontation between Natasha and Yelena, the film shows the path they walk together in search of redemption, forgiveness. This translates into scenes: from their first image as girls playing in the park to the last one where they are seen in full swing, the narrative arc is set in this relationship. “I think there was a lot of action in that first meeting (between Natasha and Yelena), all that fighting came from not knowing what to say or how to say it and doing what was best for them and they knew how to say it. do: hit each other, in a very painful and emotional way. And it’s the first time they’ve met since Yelena was growing up and I’m sure it was a shock and a shock,” said Florence Pugh.
She added: “I saw the film again last night and one thing I can’t believe is when they’re wrapped in the curtain and they look at each other and you say to me (he said to Johansson): ‘You’re an adult,’ and I: ‘Are you do you think so?’ (as is obvious). And there you see how heavy this sentence is, something every uncle tells you when you see him at Christmas or every aunt tells you when it’s your birthday. And what it means to them at that time, after everything they’ve done and what they’ve been through. And for the two of them trying to separate themselves from all that at the time… I think that reflects where they’re coming from.”
