Cate Blanchett: Glamour does not preclude intelligence
RED carpet glamour should continue in the #Metoo era because “being attractive doesn’t preclude being intelligent”, Cate Blanchett has said at the launch the Cannes Film Festival.
This year’s festival has begun on a serious note, with all delegates given a hotline number to report instances of sexual misconduct.
Blanchett is president of the femaledominated jury and was asked if the glamour of Cannes was out of step with the sober mood that has taken over the film industry in the wake of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men in the industry.
She said: “Being attractive doesn’t preclude being intelligent. This is, by its very nature, a glamorous, fantastic, spectacular festival.”
The actress could not hide her frustration when a reporter directed a question to the “film-makers” on the jury, excluding actresses Lea Seydoux and Kristen Stewart. “Actresses: don’t answer that, because you have no idea,” she said coolly.
Only three of the 21 films in competition are directed by women. Blanchett said: “Would I like to see more women in competition? Absolutely. Would I expect and hope that that’s going to happen in the future? I hope so.”
She added: “There are several women in competition. But they’re not there because of their gender. They are there because of the quality of their work. We will assess them as filmmakers, as we should.”
Thierry Fremaux, director of the festival, said the allegations against Weinstein had forced organisers to examine their practices. “It isn’t just the Cannes Film Festival that’s going to change. The whole world has changed,” he said.