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One of the more infuriating characteristics of Blue Jasmine’s (2013) Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), in a long list of infuriating character qualities, is her treatment of her common, workaday sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins).

Jasmine is the type of woman who only sees value in people who can boost her own social standing, and anyone less than elite isn’t worth the time. While she views her sister through this same lens of disapproval, she chooses to point out the inadequacies of Ginger’s associations as the source of her common and unacceptable life. Nobody feels the weight of this more than Chili (Bobby Cannavale), Ginger’s boyfriend who Jasmine disapproves of because of his occupation and heritage. Chili is a hot-headed man with his own set of issues, but he’s passionate about Ginger and devoted to caring for her; qualities Jasmine deems unimportant because he’s not rich. She disapproved of Ginger’s ex-husband Augie (Andrew Dice Clay) on the same credentials.

Jasmine’s power over Ginger stems from her lifelong feelings of inadequacy when compared to her “beautiful” sister Jasmine. Ginger repeatedly refers to Jasmine as getting the “good genes” of the family, despite both of them being adopted. Jasmine is tall, beautiful, intelligent, and able to command anything she wants out of the people she meets. Years ago, Ginger left home to pursue more modest ambitions while Jasmine married a multimillionaire and lived an affluent, lavish lifestyle. Ginger suffers from extremely low self-esteem and projects a deep level of insecurity which affects her everyday interactions with others. Ginger allows Jasmine to boss Ginger around in her own home; she accepts Jasmine’s condescension even when Ginger asks realistic questions about Jasmine’s extravagant spending habits and decision to fly first class. Ginger puts up with Jasmine’s belittlement because she sees Jasmine as better than herself.

Even after a fall from grace, Jasmine represents what Ginger thinks she desires to be.

Ginger appears envious of Jasmine, despite the fact Jasmine has done little but hinder Ginger’s own progression. Her one opportunity to advance beyond an “average” life - the $200,000 Augie won in the lottery with which he hoped to establish a construction business - was lost by Jasmine’s ex-husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) when Jasmine suggested they instead partner on investments. It’s actually Jasmine’s fault that Ginger lives a normal life as a grocer, yet Jasmin condemns Ginger for being satisfied with mediocrity.

As Jasmine is on the prowl for a new rich man to resurrect her elitist lifestyle (a move that, in itself, shows Jasmine’s inability to learn from the past and take accountability), she convinces Ginger to do the same. A courtship with the seemingly-charming Al (Louis C.K.) nearly shoves Chili out of Ginger’s life for good. When it turns out Al isn’t quite what he appeared, Ginger realizes the depth to which she lets Jasmine influence her. This realization for Ginger’s character development, as the film gives her a new appreciation for her identity and self-worth by the end.

“She has low self-esteem. She feels their adopted parents loved Jasmine more. She sees Jasmine as successful, talented, and tasteful; she goes out of her way to express admiration for her sense of design and decor. And Ginger often seems easily swayed, particularly by the men in her life. That said, the movie does give her a backbone; she doesn’t stand up to Jasmine enough, but she isn’t a doormat with Augie or Chili either, and she doesn’t make any attempt to hang onto Al once she realizes he’s a cheat.” - Tasha Robinson, The Dissolve

Watching Ginger fall victim to Jasmine’s influence throughout Blue Jasmine is irritating, given that we see Jasmine’s glaringly obvious track record of poor life choices from the word “go.” Yet, after Ginger’s encounters with Al, she wises up in the end, and that reward is a satisfying conclusion for the film’s most authentically relatable character.