Friday, 14 October 2022

Women in French Cinema vs US-American Cinema

"In America, you get older faster. It’s like Dorian Gray--you are old at 40. The French give women the opportunity to age gracefully and to be feminine. French film allows them to be sexual and sensual in a way we don’t. We don’t allow women to be sexual after 40, and you see that in the way movies are cast. Movies are a reflection of the culture."


In his "James Ulmer's French Hot List", Ulmer examines the so-called bankability (the degree to which an actor's name can raise financing for a film) of French actors and comes to the conclusion that, as of 2002, seven of the top 15 bankable stars are women and - except for one - all are older than 35. The US-American list, by contrast, includes only two women who at the time are either turning or have just turned 35 (via).

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photograph of Catherine Deneuve via

4 comments:

  1. Kenneth15 October 2022 at 08:13

    I was thinking about that, recently! Thanks!

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    1. M. Laura Moazedi15 October 2022 at 09:16

      It's something one can't help noticing, I'd say. And yet people don't or - worse - do notice and don't care because it's just the way it is. Thanks, Kenneth!

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  2. Abbie Winterburn15 October 2022 at 08:28

    Hollywood and age, it's painfull. They say it's just business but the hearts of the audience are involved, it affects our choices, decisions, how we feel about things.

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    1. M. Laura Moazedi15 October 2022 at 09:23

      Painful, yes, I totally agree. It shapes and harms societies when all narratives and images focus on women in their 20s, when women only get supporting roles of one-dimensional and boring mothers or neighbours once they are in their 40s... And it's so not-intelligent: Life expectancy is increasing and Hollywood is today telling women that they are old or too old at a younger age than decades ago. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts, Abbie.

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