Editorial: we won’t give up on movies
The last few weeks have been hard for cinephiles. The last few weeks have been hard for humans. I won’t say that the last few weeks have been hard for women because, let’s face it, it has NEVER been easy to be a woman.
You may know what I’m talking about: the several sexual harassment and abuse claims against many actors, directors and producers in Hollywood. Starting with Harvey Weinstein, we found out that the Dream Machine is a disgusting place, especially dangerous for women and children. And it has always been like that.
This may make us lose faith and hope in the world, in special when we think about all the harassers and abusers who are free and unpunished. This may make many of us, who found comfort and distraction in movies, to rethink our hobby. This may make many young people to give up on careers in entertainment.
This may change how cinephiles watch movies. There will be a difference — if there is not one already — on how films by Tarantino, Hitchcock, and especially Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, will be received by the audience. Classic film fans may become uncomfortable when they find out that stars like Judy Garland, Jean Simmons and Ginger Rogers were harassed, and Loretta Young was even raped by Clark Gable.
So, will we give up on something we love because of these findings? Let me tell you a story, inspired by the #metoo campaign: I was once harassed by a drunken man inside a movie theatre. It was awful. Among the many things in my head after the episode, there was a doubt: will I find pleasure in watching movies again? I was afraid of many things, and one of those was that the film world would be forever associated with this horrible memory.
But this didn’t happen. I still love movies — and, sincerely, I don’t know who I would be or where I would be if I had stopped watching movies. And, again, I won’t give up on movies. Because I know there is still beauty and good people in the film business.
Even with sexism and censorship, Hollywood delivered unforgettable pieces, from the funny “It Happened One Night” (1934) to the magnificent “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962). In one of the most difficult times of its history, right after the First World War, Germany saw some of the most amazing and inspired movies — it was the miracle of the German Expressionism. Even with all the bad things, there were and there are good people working for a fairer film world and a fairer real world.
I usually say that there are situations in which, amid the chaos, art blossoms. This can be comforting in the current situation, and also work as a motivational mantra. Imagine you, cinephile, who suffers from the imposter syndrome. Remember these moments of chaos in film history that gave birth to sensational movies, and know that from your nightmare something huge and powerful can be created.
The film world, just like the real world, needs change. Both must become a real human world, in which rights are respected. It won’t be easy, considering all the power involved, but we can’t become pessimistic. We also can’t give up on fighting.
Think about all the times when movies made you happy. Think about that film that changed your life, took your breath away, made you realize that human hands, although imperfect, can make something extremely beautiful — my movie of choice in this case is “The Blue Bird” (1918). Think about these moments, and see if it is worthwhile to give up on movies and also on this aesthetic pleasure.
We won’t give up on movies. Will you?
