Cuties director says Netflix film is 'feminist' after claims it sexualises young girls

Cuties director Maïmouna Doucouré. (Courtesy)

The director of controversial Netflix film Cuties has defended her work, calling it feminist. Cuties follows a dance troupe of 11-year-old girls who wear bra tops and hotpants while they dance suggestively. It has received huge backlash, with many users threatening to quit Netflix if it isn't removed from the streaming service. But speaking in a panel at the Toronto Film Festival on French filmmakers on Monday, director Maïmouna Doucouré claims her movie is feminist and is actually a commentary on how young girls are treated.

She said: "'It's because I saw so many things and so many issues around me lived by young girls, that I decided to make this film and sound an alarm and say we need to protect our children. It's bold, it's feminist, but it's so important and necessary to create debate and try to find solutions, for me as an artist, for politicians and parents.