Natalie Portman expressed her vision of the diversity of perspectives in film and gender equality in sports.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, actress Natalie Portman shed light on the challenges women face in the film industry and expressed her concerns about the way certain terms can limit her artistic contribution.
Portman was critical of the idea of the "female perspective" or "female vision" in film, arguing that labeling female directors in this way is reductionist. The actress maintains that this label does not take into account the diversity of perspectives and experiences that women can bring to the world of cinema and can reduce female directors solely to their gender. According to Portman, closing a filmmaker's idea to her gender "massacres her individuality and different points of view."
The actress, director, and producer also emphasized that gender should not be a determining factor when choosing who is awarded film projects. "Female directors should have the same opportunities as their male counterparts," she said. For her, the choice of a director should be based on her creative ability and individual talent, not on her gender.
The importance of understanding human behavior
The actress noted that a good director must deeply understand human behavior and create complex and multidimensional characters, regardless of gender. Portman praised the work of Todd Haynes as an example of a director who demonstrates this understanding in his films.
Portman also expressed her concern about the way the use of the term "female perspective" may lump all female directors into a single category, rather than recognizing them individually for their unique styles and approaches to each script. In contrast, male directors are typically identified by their authorship, not their gender, and Portman advocates a similar approach for female directors.
Natalie Portman doesn't just campaign for gender equality in the film industry; She also owns the Angel City women's soccer club. The actress has spoken about the recent controversy in football, where Luis Rubiales' non-consensual kiss to Spanish player Jenni Hermoso overshadowed the Spanish team's victory in Australia.
The Black Swan actress expressed her disappointment at how the controversy has once again politicized women's sport instead of celebrating it. At the European Club Assembly in Berlin, the actress lamented that players are forced to fight for their rights and deal with political issues instead of being able to focus solely on their sporting performance.
Portman concluded her statement by expressing her admiration for the resilience of women who, in addition to their excellence in sports, face unfair conditions and fight for gender equality. She hopes for a day when women can simply be athletes and don't have to constantly deal with fighting for their rights in sports.
