"Everything can change", a documentary to end sexism in the cinema

Text by: RFI Follow

Talking about discrimination in the cinema is the subject of Everything Can Change, a documentary released on Wednesday, February 19 in French theaters. Produced by actress Geena Davis and directed by Tom Donahue, it explores the under-representation of women and visible minorities in the American film industry.

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It is the first time that sexism in the film industry has been tackled in such a frontal and comprehensive way. In front of Tom Donahue's camera, women, actresses, but also technicians or directors, explain it, finding one's place in Hollywood is always a struggle.

Major actresses, stars like Sharon Stone, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Cate Blanchett or Meryl Streep tell us about harassment, discrimination, sexist or racist jokes or their low wages. Their stories are uplifting.

Reduced speaking time for female characters

Beyond the testimonies, the documentary also endeavors to deliver figures, those of the Geena Davis foundation , which scrutinizes the representation of the sexes in cinema and the media. These studies show the lower share that comes to female characters and the systematically shorter speaking time granted to them. As for those from minorities, for example, African-American, they are even more limited and frozen in stereotypes.

Proof that the battle is played both on the screen and behind the camera, as Natalie Portman says with humor: “ Out of forty films, I worked in all and for all with two directors, one of whom is me- even ". Currently, only 4% of filmmakers in the United States are women.

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• Culture
• Cinema
• Womens rights

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