Cult of male genius holding female film-makers back, says Woman Unknown director
May el-Toukhy says we must end veneration of male directors that causes ‘structural problem’ for women
TL;DR
- The cult of male genius is identified as a major obstacle for female directors.
- The director of 'Woman Unknown' noted that she has never seen a female director promoted as a genius.
- This gender imbalance is described as a 'structural problem' encountered throughout her career, with male peers progressing faster.
- While there was increased awareness after #MeToo, the situation seems to be reverting to previous norms.
- 'Woman Unknown' explores themes of female invisibility, objectification, and voicelessness, particularly during wartime.
- Other major European festivals like Cannes and Berlinale have shown a better ratio of female directors in their main competitions compared to Venice this year.