When we found out Jessica Chastain would be serving on the jury at Cannes this year, we knew the outspoken feminist would make a mark at the fest. Sure enough, the two-time Oscar nominated actress addressed Cannes’ woman problem — and during a press conference held after the fest’s award ceremony, no less. Chastain has been fighting long and hard for women in film, and she didn’t pass up the opportunity to inject some much-needed feminism into the fest’s proceedings while surrounded by press and the Cannes folks who invited her there as a juror. The decision to speak up, and particularly in this setting, was both brave and impactful: Chastain’s words are sparking headlines around the world, and encouraging more conversations about how women are depicted onscreen and the underrepresentation of women directors.
“This is the first time I watched 20 films in 10 days, and what I really took away from this experience is how the world views women,” Chastain said from the podium. “It was quite disturbing to me, to be honest. There were quite some exceptions. I was surprised by the representation of female characters on film.”
She added, “I think if we include more female storytellers, I hope we have more women that I see in my own day-to-day life. They just don’t react to the men around them. They have their own point-of-view.”
Women directed three of the 19 films screening in the main competition at Cannes this year — just 16 percent.
The jury awarded this year’s best director honor to Sofia Coppola for her star-studded Civil War drama “The Beguiled,” marking the first time a woman has won in 50 years. Lynne Ramsay tied for best screenplay for “You Were Never Really Here,” a thriller about a man who tries to save a young girl from a sex trafficking ring. Ramsay is the first woman to win the award solo — previous recipients co-wrote the winning scripts with men.
Chastain has gone public with her fight for equal pay and her goal to work with a female filmmaker every year. “They’re not given the same opportunities, so if I have any influence in choosing a film or a script or finding a director, I’m absolutely going to make a difference,” the “Miss Sloane” actress said. She also serves on the advisory committee of We Do It Together, a nonprofit production company dedicated to financing and producing media content that empowers women.
“Selma” director Ava DuVernay tweeted a vid of Chastain delivering Cannes truth bombs, which you can check out below. You can catch Chastain in Niki Caro’s “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” now in theaters. The drama is based on a true story and centers on zookeepers who saved hundreds of lives during the Holocaust.
Say that, @jes_chastain. https://t.co/H7QHnEE5JA
— @ava
