It was one of the most memorable moments of the 92nd Academy Awards. Natalie Portman, winner of the Oscar for best actress in 2011 for her role in Black swan, caused a sensation on the red carpet by wearing a black Dior cape on which she had the names of snubbed directors embroidered.
These names included Lorene Scafaria, (Queens), Lulu Wang (The farewell), Greta Gerwig (Daughters of Doctor March) and Marielle Heller (An extraordinary friend). “I wanted to subtly highlight women who have not been recognized for their incredible work this year,” said Natalie Portman.
This gesture was not unanimous. Rose McGowan, actress and feminist activist, said she was “deeply” offended on Facebook through the actress’ approach: “I find Natalie Portman’s kind of activism deeply offensive to those of us on the front lines.” She added:
“I don’t write these lines out of bitterness, but out of disgust. I want actresses like them to be fully engaged. What’s going on with actresses like you? You could change the world if you commit instead of being part of the problem. Yes, you, Natalie. You are part of the problem […] False support for other women is part of the problem. “
“It is not correct to consider myself as a courageous person”
Natalie Portman reacted to Rose McGowan’s criticism, saying she deserves to be seen as brave:
“I agree with Mrs. McGowan. It is not correct to consider myself as someone brave, because I wore a cape with the names of women embroidered on it. Brave is a word that I associate to the actions of those who have witnessed his last weeks despite great pressure against Harvey Weinstein. “
She was one of the producers who hired Lynne Ramsay for Jane Got a Gun. Ramsay quit the day before filming began. The fight over the film got ugly but Portman certainly initially hired her and wanted to work with her:https://t.co/fhmHYjAxC1
– Women Film Directors (@women_direct) February 12, 2020
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Several of her detractors denounced her hypocrisy, stressing that she had mainly worked with directors. However, the reality is more complex: over the past decade, several of Natalie Portman’s projects that women were to carry out have been abandoned or taken up by men.
This was particularly the case for his western Jane Got a Gun, of which she was one of the producers. Director Lynne Ramsay had to stage it before being dismissed and replaced by Gavin O’Connor. Natalie Portman appeared in 2016 in Planetarium by the Frenchwoman Rebecca Zlotowski, presented at the Cannes festival.
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