The new horror film 'Yesteryear,' produced by and starring Anne Hathaway, addresses the social and cultural challenges faced by women in the USA through the concept of 'tradwife,' meaning traditional housewife. The film tells the story of Natalie, a woman who time-travels to the 19th-century American frontier and falls into the trap of the traditional lifestyle she advocates.
The book and film have sparked wide reactions on social media. However, the debates generally focus more on political and cultural polarizations than on the work's deep narrative. Some comments see the work as a critical view of patriarchal values, while others claim they misunderstand the work.
Caro Claire Burke, the author of the 'Yesteryear' book, explains the concept's transformation in internet culture and states that the 'tradwife' label is both a lifestyle desire and a tool for provocation. The film is still in production, with Amazon MGM Studios having acquired the rights in July 2024. The screenplay is written by Emmy-winning Hannah Friedman. The director has not yet been announced.
While intense debates continue on social media around the concepts of 'Yesteryear' and 'tradwife,' the true content of the work and its character-focused narrative are mostly overlooked. The film and book offer a complex story about women's identity and social roles.