The backlash against the Cannes Film Festival rule about wearing high heels is on.
Emily Blunt and her Sicario co-stars are leading the backlash against that alleged draconian Cannes Film Festival rule which states women must wear high heels on the red carpet.
Speaking at a press conference for the new FBI movie, the actress and her male colleagues criticised an incident, reported in industry newspaper Screen Daily, which involved a group of women in their 50s being turned away from the gala screening of Carol for allegedly not wearing high-heeled shoes. The women, some of whom had medical conditions, were apparently barred entry for wearing rhinestone flats.
'That’s very disappointing,' said Emily. 'We shouldn’t wear high heels, anyway. I prefer wearing Converse sneakers.'
The film's director, Denis Villeneuve agreed, declaring: 'In a sign of protest, Benicio, Josh, and I will walk the stairs [of the Palais] in high heels tomorrow.'
Love flat shoes? Here are 30 pairs totally worth ditching high heels for
Oh the irony that the film to which these women were apparently denied entry was perhaps the most feminist on the festival's bill. Carol, set in the 1950s, tells the story of a young shop assistant, played by Rooney Mara, who embarks on a lesbian affair with a married older woman.
Speaking about her film, Sicario, Emily Blunt went on to stress that, aside from the Cannes dress code, sexism is still a big problem in Hollywood, explaining that the screenwriter was asked to re-write her part - she plays an FBI agent fighting Mexican drug cartels - for a man.
'You kind of think that there’s these new waves of equality and waves of people realizing that women are just as fascinating and interesting to watch, and as bankable,' said Blunt, turning to Villeneuve. '[But] it was interesting, with this film, I think you got asked early on if you’d rewrite my part for a guy.'
Villeneuve then confirmed he'd been asked to rethink the gender of the lead role. 'It was a screenplay that people were afraid of in part because the lead was a female character. And I know that the screenwriter was asked to rewrite the part.'
Come on Hollywood, sort it out.
See all the photos from the Cannes 2015 red carpet.
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