Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power
directed by Nina Menkes, USA 2022, 105'
In her lecture illustrated with film excerpts Nina Menkes, freelance filmmaker and academic, clearly explains how basic filming techniques are used to objectify women on screen and what consequences this has for the industry as a whole and for women’s safety in general. This workshop analysis leads to the conclusion that whether we are talking about classic films from the past (The Lady from Shanghai, Rear Window, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) or contemporary works (Blade Runner 2049, Blue Is the Warmest Colour, Wonder Woman) – even those created by women – the very fundamentals of film language invariably reproduce a patriarchal vision of the world. In Brainwashed... other female directors, experts and activists for equality in cinema (Geena Davis, Maria Giese, Joey Soloway, Ita O’Brien) also speak out. Menkes takes these reflections on a stroll around Cannes and in front of the big screen of the lecture room. Her silhouette and commentary shatter the apparent neutrality of scenes shot with the male gaze. Those familiar with Menkes’ work claim she has found a way to speak to the audience in a different language.
