By Rishi Mulloth
Men Helping Women explores the problem of sexual assault in the art world between male artists in positions of power and female artists looking for a mentor. This is a rampant problem that has been going on for far too long, but young women, like director Ishu Shin, are unafraid to speak out against these perpetrators, demanding consequences for their actions. Shin cuts together multiple recordings of “apologies” revolving around sexual assault allegations, while displaying symbolic imagery that ties into the words being spoken. Like her depiction of the three red balls magic trick, how something that was there, that happened, can so easily be treated like it was never a thing. In her short film, Shin goes through the phases of the apology from “denial” that it ever happened, all the way to “let it go,” a statement to brush off all the damage that was done.
Men Helping Women was curated for the Planet Classroom Network by NFFTY, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth. Shin brings up a dialogue that is hard to deal with, but needs to be addressed because of the many innocent lives being impacted and even destroyed. The only way to address the issues is through open dialogue and accountability for those male artists abusing their power. Men Helping Women illustrates the hollow nature of the perpetrators’ words, only trying to help themselves because of the situation they’re in. Nevertheless the voices of the women affected by these assaults ring through. They are the victims who have to carry the real pain.
This film brings up an important issue in the art world that needs to be talked about, and it does so in a thoughtful and impactful manner. I recommend this film for everyone because of the important messages it shares, and its masterful and unconventional way of telling the story. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars.
Rishi Mulloth is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in film and media studies and economics, and is attending the University of Scranton this fall for a master’s in business analytics. He is currently working on the production of the film Thanks to Her, and aspires to work in content acquisition.
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