Alice Rohrwacher: “The sentence on Depardieu shows that words are not chatter and that the union between women makes strength”

Alice Rohrwacher It is at home at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2011 he presented to the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs the first work Celestial bodythen the competition came with Wonders, Lazzaro happy And The chimera. Today, the director is on the Croisette as President of the Jury of La Caméra d’Or, the prize that is awarded to the beginners behind the camera.

“In some ways I feel more curious and excited than when I participated in the competition,” he says Rohrwacher To journalists, just before meeting the members of the jury, “he is even more exciting because I go to the unknown. Hope is to find in these films the seeds of a change capable of inception the system. The first works are the films that, regardless of all the errors and difficulties you have to make them, enclose the soul of an author like a treasure chest ».

Alice is located in Cannes in the company of his sister Alba, one of the members of the jury of the main competition. “We are stunned by happiness “says. «When they called me I was convinced that they wanted to talk to my sister, and instead they were looking for both. I am happy that Alba is by my side. It is a nice responsibility and I can’t wait to fight with the jurors because the most beautiful thing is to make peace and demonstrate the world that you can make peace ».

The Rohrwacher sisters represent only a part of a large female parterre here in Cannes: the films signed by women are 25% and seven are in competition. “The change will really happen when we no longer talk about the topic», Comments the director. “The change began when women coalized and came out of the logic of the first woman, namely that the woman is the greatest enemy of herself. Fortunately, this Maccanism has failed. Lot so that there are more and more directors: the female gaze enriches everyone, even men ».

The opening day of the 78th Cannes Film Festival is marked by the news of the twelve months in prison a Gérard Depardieu For sexual violence and harassment. “They tell us that words are just chatting, but this sentence shows that instead many words and the union have made the strength “comments, “and transformed the words into judicial actions. I hope this struggle goes beyond the method and that protests, letters and appeals do not remain such ».

France and the Festival has baptized the art of Alice Rohrwacher. «With this country I have a particular relationship, I am grateful to France and my French teacher. Of Italy I am in love, but it is a complex and heartbreaking love story», Confesses,” Italy is an incredible country with an immense biodiversity, but its wealth is not highlighted. Our culture is becoming only food and wine culture. The culture is other: it is a precipice, edge, frontier that allows us to change our beliefs and transform our gaze. I hope that Italy realizes the value of its children and the gaze of others ».

Alice Rohrwacher cannot reveal anything about his next projects. “I’m preparing two films, but it’s not a happy time, not even for those who have made a path like mine,” reveals, “As an artist I feel free, but if I had to make his debut today I would not feel free».