Ep 151: Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power - Director Nina Menkes On The Male Gaze

Girls On Film

Some listeners may be activated by this episode, which contains some references to sexual assault. This episode of Girls On Film is a special on the powerful documentary feature, Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power, by director Nina Menkes. This film taps into so many important subjects relating to film and feminism. It has the power to open eyes, and change the way we think and shoot films. Anna Smith talked to Nina Menkes at a special preview screening held on 9 May 2023 by Girls On Film in association with BFI Distribution. Nina talks about the way in which the all-pervasive male gaze in filmmaking. Most films depict the man as an active subject, and the woman as a passive, fragmented object. She describes how this works, and the effect it has on our wider culture and on the behaviours of women and men. She also explains why queer cinema may be able to challenge this cinematic vocabulary more than others, and she talks about the responses she has had to the film, from audiences and film critics alike. Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power is in UK cinemas now. The BFI has scheduled a special season of Nina Menkes’ films, entitled CINEMATIC SORCERESS: THE FILMS OF NINA MENKES. It’s at the BFI Southbank from 6 to 31 May 2023 Other films discussed: Blade Runner The Cabbage Fairy Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles Metropolis Portrait of a Lady On Fire Vagabond Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Brought to you by Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold Audio editor: Benjamin Cook Assistant Producer: Eleanor Hardy Principal Partners Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer House band: MX Tyrants This episode is in partnership with Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer.