Movie Penelope Questions Plastic Surgery

A baby girl with an ugly nose is born to wealthy socialites. Though mortified by their dear only daughter’s unseemly look, the aristocratic parents never feel dejected, thinking everything will be okay if they find out the best plastic surgeon and have her undergone nip and tuck.

However, a bad news like a bolt from the blue comes from the surgeon they found. After examining her nose, the doctor says surgery cannot be done because her carotid artery is passing through the nose. “If she gets surgery, she will die,” he warns.

Newly-released movie “Penelope” is about a young girl named Penelope who is born under a curse because of her ancestors’ sin. The inspiring movie dashes a hope the audience may have harbor that “an ugly nose can turn to a gorgeous one by plastic surgery,” from the start.

The carotid artery sends blood to the brain. Is it possible that a baby is born with a defect of having his or her carotid artery run through the nose?

“It sounds like an interesting idea, but it’s far-fetched. Even if it passes the nose, the modern medical technology can correct it,” informed Bang Sa-ik, a plastic surgeon at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul.

Penelope played by Christina Ricci breaks the curse without the help of modern medicine on the back of her true love. The guy who comes to her rescue is Max played by James McAvoy. By helping her break free from the curse, he also saves his life. The biggest virtue that undergirds this inspiring movie is the lure James McAvoy emanates. He never fails to show his hallmark sweet smile by which moviegoers were mesmerized in films like “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” In the movie that hit box offices around the world in 2005, he performed the part of Mr. Tumnus, the Faun.

The wealthy parents enjoy a fleeting happy moment with her beautified daughter and her handsome soon-to-be husband. But as if it is not enough, Penelope’s mother, who is filled with vanity, asked her to heighten her nose a little more. As she refuses, her family cast a humiliating look at her.

“Why? Am I wrong? Why does everybody get crazy to look prettier?” Penelope cries to her family.

Along with eyelids, noses are common body parts subject to cosmetic surgery. But Penelope’s mother needs to be warned against possible adverse effects of the invasive treatment. According to plastic surgeons, one out of every 1,000 people who underwent nose surgery suffered severe consequences of having their noses contracted due to inflammation, resulting in upturned noses.

The theme that “one’s character matters more than appearances” appears to go awry at the end of the movie. But the movie, produced by actress Reese Witherspoon who is known for her wide protruding chin, is enough to provoke thoughts in moviegoers. She seems to want to talk about the inferiority complex about looks. This movie is available for 12 years and older.

sohn@donga.com