Moxie – High School Nostalgia + It’s Never Too Late

Moxie is a 2021 comedy-drama film directed by Amy Poehler. It’s based on a novel by same the name by Jennifer Mathieu.

“Fed up with the sexist and toxic status quo at her high school, a shy 16-year-old finds inspiration from her mother’s rebellious past and anonymously publishes a zine that sparks a school-wide, coming-of-rage revolution.” - Netflix

Moxie is not just a random next door “that” feminist movie. It actually addresses bullying, harassment, and sexism in a refreshing optimistic vibe. Not only that, the one thing that I really like is that it is the most intersectional “feminist” movie I’ve ever seen. Even though the white savior trope is highly prominent throughout the film, it does try to highlight POC voices. Moxie is a cute coming-of-age movie influenced by Riot grrrl and Bikini Kill. It is very relatable as it’s no surprise that sexism has been very prominent in our lives, whether it be high school or university or workplace, there’s no escaping it, it’s inevitable. Striving for a better future is on our to-do list and Moxie is here just to remind us of our mission. Seeing bullying and harassment start in high-school is a crass reminder that our precious children who should be enjoying the build-up of the peak of their lives (also a lie that has been fed to us – there’s no perfect age for a “peak”) instead of dealing with real-world problems. It is even more relatable because music always gets us motivated. Bikini Kill is one such punk rock band that would probably freak out your parents and fill them with nostalgia. There’s a weird sense of legacy when 2020 high-school kids listen to Bikini Kill. It also teaches us that generational gaps can be death with when we all realize that we more or less feel the same feelings. There’s a sense of belongingness, a sense of togetherness in the struggle. There shouldn’t be, because utopia would mean there’s no struggle, but it is, and we have to deal with it, and we have to come together and realize the same blood flowing in our veins.

There’s a point at the end of the movie where everyone just screams, and it IS as cathartic as it sounds. About time we started screaming and actively fighting sexism, harassment, and bullying.