Jessica Chastain calls out “disturbing” representation of women in Cannes film selection

Jessica Chastain has said that she found the representation of women in the Cannes film selection “quite disturbing”. 

The actress – who was last seen in Miss Sloane as a formidable, high-flying political lobbyist – was a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival, and following the awards ceremony Chastain told reporters at a press conference: “This is the first time I watched 20 films in 10 days, and what I really took away from this experience is how the world views women… It was quite disturbing to me, to be honest.”

Say that, @jes_chastain. https://t.co/H7QHnEE5JA

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 29, 2017

Chastain’s comments came after Sofia Coppola made history as the second woman ever to win Best Director at the festival. Coppola was honoured for her work directing The Beguiled, starring Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst.

“I do believe that if you have female storytelling, you also have more authentic female characters,” Chastain said.

She called for the festival to include more female filmmakers so the jury can watch women “that I recognise in my day to day life. Ones that are proactive, have their own agency and don’t just react to the men around them, they have their own point of view”.