Cannes Report, Day 5: Salma Hayek Sounds Off, Gaspar Noé Redeemed

Hayek says Harvey Weinstein countered her accusations because women of color are “easiest to get discredited”

Sofia Boutella, Salma Hayek, Patty Jenkins, Claudia Cardinale and other filmaker walk on the red carpet in protest of the lack of female filmmakers honored throughout the history of the festival at the screening of 'Girls Of The Sun (Les Filles Du Soleil)' during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2018 in Cannes, France. Only 82 films in competition in the official selection have been directed by women since the inception of the Cannes Film Festival whereas 1,645 films in the past 71 years have been directed by men. the screening of 'Girls Of The Sun (Les Filles Du Soleil)' during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2018 in Cannes, France
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It’s raining in France as we reach the halfway point of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where a gender parity conversation has taken center stage and filmmakers continue to serve up their wares.

Speaking at the annual Kering Women in Motion panel, Salma Hayek touched on the scorched-earth op-ed she wrote last year about working with disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Polarizing provocateur Gaspar Noe returned after his 3D sexcapade “Love” from 2015 — and managed to win over critics with a dance-infused horror film (we’ll still never forgive him for this poster).

Salma Speaks

When the “Beatriz at Dinner” star is wired with a mic, you can pretty much guarantee you’re in for some straight talk.

Hayek sat for a keynote conversation at the annual Kering panel about women in entertainment, where she first discussed the historic gesture made on Saturday by 82 women who stormed the Croisette in silence to protest the lack of equity in Hollywood.

“As a woman who has been a part of this community and had to go through the struggle all women have had to go through … it’s an important step to see this happen,” Hayek said.

Discussion turned to her harrowing account of working with Weinstein on a biopic of Frida Kahlo, where she said she relentlessly refused the disgraced producer’s advances and suffered emotional torture. It was one of the few accounts Weinstein responded to, notably to deny all accusations and express shock and disbelief.

“We are the easiest to get discredited,” Hayek said specifically of women of color, alluding to a similar account from Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o. “It is a well-known fact. So he went back, attacking the two women of color, in hopes that if he could discredit us.”

Gaspar Noé Finds Life After Love

Cannes has its share of black sheep and prodigal sons — like the returning tornado of Lars von Trier and the prolific and occasionally petulant Xavier Dolan. No different is Gaspar Noe, of the notably explicit and controversial “Love,” a graphic 3D love triangle tale that fully depicted a variety of sex acts on top of his narrative.

Now he brings “Climax” which, despite what the title suggests, is a not a sequel to “Love.”

It’s a trippy dance movie that evolves into a horror film, and it’s majorly won over critics. One described the film as a cross between Darren Aronofsky’s “mother!” and the “Step Up” franchise.

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Need to catch up on Cannes? Read TheWrap’s daily coverage:

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

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