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30th May 2017

Jessica Chastain: ‘The way women are portrayed in film is truly disturbing’

Orlaith Condon

Jessica Chastain is getting a lot of praise today for her criticism of the way women are portrayed in film.

Speaking at the closing press conference at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Chastain said that the way female characters are represented in films is disturbing and says that the lack of female film-makers plays a big part.

“I’ve watched 20 films in 10 days, and the one thing I really took away from this experience is how the world views women from the female characters I saw represented in these movies.

“And it was quite disturbing, if I’m honest,” she said at the conference.

“There were exceptions but for the most part I was surprised by the representation of female characters on screen in these films.

“I do hope that when we include more female storytellers we will have more of the women I recognise in my day-to-day life.

“The ones that don’t just react to the men around them – they have their own point of view.”


Chastain’s words have been shared online in the thousands since yesterday, and have clearly struck a chord with so many who feel they are not accurately represented in film.

The film festival has faced criticism in the past for its treatment of female film-makers.

Sofia Coppola made headlines this week after she became only the second woman to win the award for best screenplay at the festival. An achievement so rare, it was newsworthy.