At the prestigious Berlin Film Festival, Kristen Stewart shared her vision for the future of films that delve into queer and female narratives, advocating for a shift beyond the mere focus on identity. Stewart, renowned for her roles that often challenge societal norms, expressed her desire for conversations about such films to transcend their identity aspects. “The era of queer films being so pointedly only that is done,” Stewart declared, emphasizing the need for a broader, more inclusive approach to storytelling.
A New Era of Storytelling
Stewart was in Berlin to promote “Love Lies Bleeding,” a film set in the gritty landscape of the 1980s Southwestern U.S., which tells a compelling crime-romance story. Directed by Rose Glass, known for her debut with the religious thriller “Saint Maud,” the film features Stewart as Lou, a gym manager and daughter of a local crime lord. Lou’s life takes a dramatic turn as she falls for Jackie, portrayed by newcomer Katy O’Brian, a drifter heading to a Las Vegas bodybuilding competition. Stewart praised Glass for bringing forward characters often overlooked, stating, “The person who we normally don’t listen to, the person that we normally don’t look at, like she’s up front and center in her movie.”
Beyond Marginalization
The discussion further explored the nuanced experiences of marginalized voices in cinema, moving beyond the traditional narratives that focus solely on the aspects of marginalization. Stewart expressed her enthusiasm for unearthing sidelined perspectives, not just the reasons behind their sidelining but their actual experiences. This approach, as Stewart and Glass discussed, allows for a richer, more diverse cinematic landscape that truly represents the breadth of human experience.
Empowerment in the Film Industry
The conversation also touched on the experiences of women in the film industry, with Stewart critiquing the prescriptive nature of interviews and discussions surrounding female artists. She called out the superficial push for empowerment narratives, which often overlook the deeper issues of oppression and marginalization faced by women in the industry. By challenging these norms, Stewart and Glass advocate for a more genuine representation of women’s experiences, both in front of and behind the camera.