Watch Sois belle et tais-toi

Sois belle et tais-toi, which translates to "Be Pretty and Shut Up," is a French documentary film released in 1981. Directed by Delphine Seyrig, the movie features interviews with prominent women in the French and American film industry, including Jane Fonda, Maria Schneider, and Juliet Berto. The movie aims to highlight the significant gender inequality present in the film industry during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Through discussions and personal stories from the interviewees, it portrays the struggles women faced in the male-dominated industry, and how they often had to compromise their talent and artistic integrity to fit the traditional feminine stereotype.

The movie starts with Seyrig introducing the topic of gender discrimination in the film industry, followed by a brief history of women's representation in cinema. The interviews then begin, with actresses and filmmakers sharing their experiences of the industry's sexism, lack of opportunities, and objectification.

Some of the interviewees discuss how casting directors would select their leading ladies based on physical appearance and marital status, rather than talent or experience. Furthermore, they reveal that they were often encouraged to comply with societal norms and cover up their natural selves to fit the mold of the "ideal" beauty standards.

Actresses like Maria Schneider, who starred in the infamous Bernardo Bertolucci film Last Tango in Paris, talk about how she was only seen as a sexual object by the director and how she was not allowed to express herself as an artist. Others, like Jill Clayburgh, talk about the double standard present in the film industry, where male actors could be eccentric, unconventional or overweight, but women had to fit the traditional standards of beauty.

The documentary also addresses the issue of sexism from a behind-the-scenes perspective, with directors and producers outlining the difficulties they faced when trying to break through the glass ceiling. They highlight the lack of representation and opportunities for women, including a dearth of female protagonists, writers, and directors.

Throughout the film, Seyrig interweaves archival footage and clips from movies discussed within the interviews. It primarily showcases how women's roles in movies have changed over time and highlights how women often sacrificed great careers to conform to patriarchal views.

In conclusion, Sois belle et tais-toi is a groundbreaking documentary highlighting the issue of gender discrimination in the film industry. It provides a historical reference point for those studying cinema and feminism, and it serves as a model of documentary filmmaking on its topic. Seyrig successfully utilized her platform to provide female voices in the industry and showcase how much the film industry needs to change. As a result, this documentary film remains a vital and informative resource, accessible to anyone who wants to understand more about the film industry's feminist history.