Netflix indicted on child porn charges over 'Cuties'

[Niamh.]

A Texas grand jury has indicted streaming giant Netflix on child pornography charges.

The indictment accuses Netflix and its top executives of “promotion of lewd visual material depicting [a] child” with regard to the controversial French film “Cuties.”

According to the indictment, which was handed down Sept. 23 but only revealed Tuesday, Netflix did “knowingly promote visual material which depicts the lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time.”

The indictment goes on to note, relevant to the legal definitions of pornography, that the visual material in “Cuties” appeals to the prurient interest in sex, and has no serious, literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

“Cuties,” which won a prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in February, was put online to stream into America’s homes by Netflix on Sept. 9.

The French movie, which was called “Mignonnes” in its native land, depicts a “Mean Girls”-type clique of 11-year-olds, one of the activities of which is a dance troupe.

The climactic scene is a contest for which the protagonist, a Senegalese immigrant, devises a routine that includes group twerks, mouth gestures, ground humping and hip grinding. Other scenes show them rehearsing the numbers and other sexualized moves that the girls are sometimes depicted as only half-understanding.

Netflixtold the New York Post in a Tuesday statement that it stood by the film.

“‘Cuties’ is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. This charge is without merit and we stand by the film,” Netflix said.


https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/6/netflix-indicted-child-porn-charges-over-cuties/?fbclid=IwAR0wI66GMCLnFp3ZTnNu_Bj5PXWfyhkdnYajPtjF _LlGjUGDTzOC8aP5IU8

[arista]

Yes about time.

[Niamh.]

Yes about time.

I haven't watched it as I really don't want to support it but I've seen pictures from it and heard other peoples reviews on it and I'm really disappointed Netflix are standing by the film still

[arista]

I haven't watched it as I really don't want to support it but I've seen pictures from it and heard other peoples reviews on it and I'm really disappointed Netflix are standing by the film still



Yes there is an arrogance with the CEO of Netflix
on this.



I wonder if Ammi
has had a chance to watch it yet?

[Cherie]

I haven't watched it as I really don't want to support it but I've seen pictures from it and heard other peoples reviews on it and I'm really disappointed Netflix are standing by the film still

I watched about half an hour of it, that was enough for me

[arista]

I watched about half an hour of it, that was enough for me

Well done you.

[Niamh.]

I watched about half an hour of it, that was enough for me

I read a good comment about it earlier when someone said "but if you watch the film they're actually against sexualising children" and someone replied "so if someone made a film against animal cruelty by torturing animals to show how bad it was ........that would be ok?"

[Oliver_W]

I've said this before but I really don't get how some articles are branding critics of the film "right wing"? Being against child exploitation should be bipartisan. People's politics shouldn't even come into it when it comes to stuff like this.

“Cuties,” the Extraordinary Netflix Début That Became the Target of a Right-Wing Campaign
‘Cuties’ Director Blames Poster for Right-Wing Attacks (https://www.thewrap.com/cuties-director-maimouna-doucoure-right-wing-attacks-judge-poster-netflix/)

[Tom4784]

I don't know if it's right to describe it as child porn, but that doesn't mean that it isn't gross and really shouldn't be a thing. It boggles the mind how Netflix thought it was a good idea to pick it up.

[Niamh.]

I don't know if it's right to describe it as child porn, but that doesn't mean that it isn't gross and really shouldn't be a thing. It boggles the mind how Netflix thought it was a good idea to pick it up.

It's certainly exploitation. I wonder if maybe that's just the umbrella that a charge against Netflix had to fall under?

[Ammi]

...so anyway, the thing is...that I don’t really have any comment specifically because I haven’t watched it and haven’t felt any inclination to...but Arista just told me that I had to comment anyway even though I said that there wasn’t really anything for me to say...so that’s it really...is that okay, Arista me dear...did I say enough, you okay with that comment...

[Ammi]

Yes there is an arrogance with the CEO of Netflix
on this.



I wonder if Ammi
has had a chance to watch it yet?

...is this harassment...?...:laugh:..

[arista]

...is this harassment...?...:laugh:..


No it is a question

[Oliver_W]

I don't know if it's right to describe it as child porn, but that doesn't mean that it isn't gross and really shouldn't be a thing. It boggles the mind how Netflix thought it was a good idea to pick it up.

It's certainly exploitation. I wonder if maybe that's just the umbrella that a charge against Netflix had to fall under?

I guess if they could make a solid case that it was made to be ... arousing? Titillating? then they could claim it was made for pornographic reasons.

Like I really wouldn't be surprised if it were made so the director or producer or whoever had a lot of that footage...

[Ammi]

No it is a question

...okay me dear...:love:...hopefully you’re okay with the answer now...

[Tom4784]

It's certainly exploitation. I wonder if maybe that's just the umbrella that a charge against Netflix had to fall under?

It's definitely exploitation, agreed. I would like to see Netflix face consequences on that front but I do think that the courts might be overkilling it by describing it as child porn, a decent defense attorney would be able to argue why that isn't the case.

Ugh, it's all gross though. Why is this film even a thing.

[arista]

...so anyway, the thing is...that I don’t really have any comment specifically because I haven’t watched it and haven’t felt any inclination to...but Arista just told me that I had to comment anyway even though I said that there wasn’t really anything for me to say...so that’s it really...is that okay, Arista me dear...did I say enough, you okay with that comment...



We all await for you to watch this.
Thank you for posting

[arista]

...okay me dear...:love:...hopefully you’re okay with the answer now...


Yes I am

[arista]

It's definitely exploitation, agreed. I would like to see Netflix face consequences on that front but I do think that the courts might be overkilling it by describing it as child porn, a decent defense attorney would be able to argue why that isn't the case.

Ugh, it's all gross though. Why is this film even a thing.


Netflix got even more members $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
that love children - in the Wrong Way

[bots]

i wont watch it. Everything about it looked dodgy to me

[arista]

i wont watch it. Everything about it looked dodgy to me


You Are Most Wise.

[Ammi]

...just to refresh you, Arista with the thread...you seem to think that I showed some support for the movie in some way when I didn’t...



https://www.thisisbigbrother.com/forums/showthread.php?t=369906&highlight=cuties

[Josy]

...just to refresh you, Arista with the thread...you seem to think that I showed some support for the movie in some way when I didn’t...







https://www.thisisbigbrother.com/forums/showthread.php?t=369906&highlight=cutiesYou posted that it was getting good reviews and you would have to watch it before you commented on the campaign I think that's why Arista was interested to see if you had watched it

[arista]

https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/image/2020/9/9/97ef2038-bb4d-4004-a022-2325468f8249-cuties-vs-mignonnes.jpg


Netflix Error.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcVxiRsol9A&feature=emb_logo

The YouTube Clip of them,

[Josy]

I havent and wouldnt watch it, personally watching it I would feel as if it was supporting it, not sure wtf Netflix was thinking coming up with this.

[Ammi]

You posted that it was getting good reviews and you would have to watch it before you commented on the campaign I think that's why Arista was interested to see if you had watched it

..yeah, he was a bit more than ‘interested’, Josy...:laugh:..but that’s fine, I haven’t watched it yet so nothing has changed since my last post in the other thread is all...

[thesheriff443]

Is it any worse than a dance troup on bgt.

I see see it as kids copying adults and not in a sexual way, not that I’ve seen the film or will see it.

[Cherie]

I read a good comment about it earlier when someone said "but if you watch the film they're actually against sexualising children" and someone replied "so if someone made a film against animal cruelty by torturing animals to show how bad it was ........that would be ok?"

yeah exactly, if they did it as animation or something, the age of the cast is an issue

[Cherie]

Is it any worse than a dance troup on bgt.

I see see it as kids copying adults and not in a sexual way, not that I’ve seen the film or will see it.

yes, I don't see any adult content on BGT kids dance troupe performances

[jet]

The clip that was posted on here was enough for me. Awful.
Was I going to watch the film to see if it was okay after all because it had a 'message'? Absolutely no way.

[jet]

I read a good comment about it earlier when someone said "but if you watch the film they're actually against sexualising children" and someone replied "so if someone made a film against animal cruelty by torturing animals to show how bad it was ........that would be ok?"

Great comment.

[Nicky91]

it was first released by BAC Films

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAC_Films


yes Netflix made a mistake here by getting the rights for this



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%C3%AFmouna_Doucour%C3%A9

this is that director of this

https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6I mh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ3MzY0MS9vcmlnaW4 uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDA0OTQ1M30.wM8GFokMx _LC_WEdy1RLJDdTInGNShB54qqdik9a4Aw/img.jpg?width=980

apparently also one of france's new rising star directors (already won few movie awards for earlier work)

[user104658]

I believe that the film makers THOUGHT they were sending a message/social commentary and that it was fine in that sense.

In reality however it was a hopelessly misjudged and frankly reckless piece of film making, and equally ill-judged for Netflix to pick it up.

So while I don't think they were deliberately promoting child porn, I do think there should be strong consequences, to make it clear that there is and must always be "a line" when it comes to imagery of children, and film making practices that are exploitative of child actors.

There seems to be a general idea on social media from people who think it's all fine that, because the girls in the film were well treated and looked after on set and because they enjoyed making the film, the "can't have been" being exploited but that's just obviously not the case. That's not how child safeguarding works at all.

[Nicky91]

I believe that the film makers THOUGHT they were sending a message/social commentary and that it was fine in that sense.

In reality however it was a hopelessly misjudged and frankly reckless piece of film making, and equally ill-judged for Netflix to pick it up.

So while I don't think they were deliberately promoting child porn, I do think there should be strong consequences, to make it clear that there is and must always be "a line" when it comes to imagery of children, and film making practices that are exploitative of child actors.

There seems to be a general idea on social media from people who think it's all fine that, because the girls in the film were well treated and looked after on set and because they enjoyed making the film, the "can't have been" being exploited but that's just obviously not the case. That's not how child safeguarding works at all.

i watched that trailer, can't say i immediately thought of ''child porn'' i found it just very very weird, children behaving like adults

Netflix overall have good movies, series (i'm very happy myself with its content, and also that it gets renewed from time to time)


they made a mistake here, yes but they also look internationally to widen their movies, series content, this director lady probably ''advertised'' it well enough for them to acquire this one

[user104658]

To add to that, I also think it would have been perfectly possible to make the same film with the same overall message without actually showing the kids doing anything. E.g. You could show the music videos/adults and them TALKING about emulating them in their own show, and then shown ONLY the crowd reaction to their show (while you would know they were copying the adults dancing, it wouldn't actually be shown).

I think the only reason they haven't gone that way is to be more "raw and edgy". To be "more impactful". No thanks.

[thesheriff443]

yes, I don't see any adult content on BGT kids dance troupe performances

I’ve just watched the clip, for me it falls under kids performing an erotic dance routine wich is not really appropriate but look at most girl groups, they do those types of dance routines all the time and it’s aimed at a young audience.

[Nicky91]

this evil woman of a director even promoted her ''movie'' so well, it won some awards :skull:

[Nicky91]

rtOUkez6VjI

this was the debut film from this woman (and coincidentally another one with child actors/actresses)

[user104658]

I’ve just watched the clip, for me it falls under kids performing an erotic dance routine wich is not really appropriate but look at most girl groups, they do those types of dance routines all the time and it’s aimed at a young audience.Yes but the girls in girl-groups themselves are usually over 18 or at the very least over 16, it's hardly the same as getting 11 year olds to twerk on camera.

[Cherie]

Yes but the girls in girl-groups themselves are usually over 18 or at the very least over 16, it's hardly the same as getting 11 year olds to twerk on camera.

exactly the point

[Nicky91]

exactly the point

everyone attacking netflix :rolleyes:


and ignoring that director, clearly whom got an obsession with children in movies, and also in the wrong sort of content

if anyone should be sued it is her, not netflix

she has been playing netflix with deception getting her content on that streaming service too

[Nicky91]

Q8dsjAoazdY

here she is, a interview about why she made this movie

the whole arrogant way she proudly says she is the director of cuties too :umm2:

[Oliver_W]

To add to that, I also think it would have been perfectly possible to make the same film with the same overall message without actually showing the kids doing anything. E.g. You could show the music videos/adults and them TALKING about emulating them in their own show, and then shown ONLY the crowd reaction to their show (while you would know they were copying the adults dancing, it wouldn't actually be shown).

I think the only reason they haven't gone that way is to be more "raw and edgy". To be "more impactful". No thanks.

It's about the presentation as much as anything else. Like they could have shown the dancing but from a fixed camera angle from a way away. Then they could show the dance in its entirety, but the fixed angle would make it seem more uncomfortable and that the characters were being exploited instead of the actresses.

But by shooting it like a "sexy" music video just makes the director look like a creeper.

[thesheriff443]

Yes but the girls in girl-groups themselves are usually over 18 or at the very least over 16, it's hardly the same as getting 11 year olds to twerk on camera.

The problem is my old fruit, 11 years are doing this on camera all over the world with tik tok and other similar platforms.

Monkey see monkey do I’m afraid.

[Nicky91]

It's about the presentation as much as anything else. Like they could have shown the dancing but from a fixed camera angle from a way away. Then they could show the dance in its entirety, but the fixed angle would make it seem more uncomfortable and that the characters were being exploited instead of the actresses.

But by shooting it like a "sexy" music video just makes the director look like a creeper.

a creeper who can win awards with weird **** though

[Oliver_W]

a creeper who can win awards with weird **** though

Hollywood is full of perverted filmmakers who get awards.