American Jetsetters at 2013-10-09 18:41:57:

As a woman and a mother, I actually felt very emotionally connected to Ryan because of the loss of her daughter. On our search for 'strong female leads' it seems we've decided anything short of Salt (Jolie)-like characters are portraying women as weak. If you watch the movie again keeping in mind that the theme is all about seeing the BEAUTY and WONDER of life in every single moment, I think you'll find a new appreciation for the character (and movie) that might not be the movie you had hoped for, but is spectacular and moving in a whole different way. If Ryan was a capable kick-ass protagonist (in the way you were hoping for), it would be another Apollo 13 scenario, where our hero is so damn capable we never think for a moment they might not make it. Entertaining, sure, emotionally investing? Not so much. The fact Ryan had lost her daughter and was still powering on (albeit robotically and in fear of every moment) made it all the more rewarding for me to see her find not only the will and strength to live, but also the beauty and wonder of life, such as a baby's cry, a human connection, the feel and smell of clay in your hands, or as Clooney's character (who epitomized the theme with every word and action) says in his parting moment "You should see the sun over the Ganges!" as seen from the infinite unfathomable beauty and wonder of space... of LIFE. The beauty and wonder of the cinematography, something never before accomplished, just further imbedded the theme for me. See it again, girl. Let go of the movie you wanted it to be, and appreciate it for the movie Cuaron intended to be. It truly is a masterpiece.