The new wave of lesbian cinema and harassment in European film and music

Film critics have praised the latest wave of lesbian cinema as shameless, funny, amoral, and filled with sexuality. This genre includes films such as the romantic thriller “Love Lies Bleeding”, the road movie “Drive-Away Dolls”, “Bottoms”, a buddy comedy set in high school, and “Blue Jean”, a film about a lesbian PE teacher in the 1980s. These films not only explore the lives of lesbians but also offer a captivating and adventurous queer journey that puts queer people at the center.

The French film industry is currently facing allegations of sexual harassment. In 2017, the #MeToo movement was met with reluctance and even hostility in France. However, a turning point was reached when a documentary was released last December that showed actor Gérard Depardieu making sexist insults (including towards a child) and behaving inappropriately towards women. Since then, more actresses have come forward to talk about rape and sexual harassment in the French film industry.

A report by Help Musicians and Musicians’ Union has revealed that 33% of British female musicians have experienced sexual harassment in the music industry. More than half of women in the industry have experienced gender discrimination at work, and they are more than eight times as likely to experience it as their male colleagues. Despite being better educated than their male counterparts, women in the industry earn less, especially if they come from ethnic minorities or struggle with disabilities.