In Hollywood movies we discover more and more characters and more varied. In a period of vindication of the LGTBI movement, Rosi Legido’s “Hidden in Cinema” shows a vision of classical cinema in which lesbians were hidden and offers some keys to reinterpret it.
He has now written “Escondidas en el cine” (censorship and sapphic characters), a book that shows the keys to understanding certain Hollywood and European classics in which lesbians seem unclear to avoid censorship, as well as the trajectory that cinema reaches the visibility of this character type.
Passionate about animals, ecofeminist, vegan and activist in an NGO, in her writings and conferences Legido denounces injustices through short films, puppet shows and illustrations. I talked to her about her new work.
— How did the idea for the book come about? + It is based on my doctoral thesis “Latent homosexuality in cinema”. Over the years I decided to make a book, but instead of reflecting male and female homosexuality, I did it exclusively about lesbian characters. “PLACE OF INTEREST ON LGBTI” .— Why now? + The woman is more invisible in society in all respects and the same thing happens with lesbians. His cinematic stories are rare. In addition, there is a lack of interest in the LGTBI issue.
It is wonderful to know that when there are absurd prohibitions, such as forbidding all people to express themselves with the same right regardless of their sexual status, there are those who are smarter than any censorship. The ability to say what is forbidden is very interesting. The author published his work at LES editorial, because it is the first publishing house exclusively LBT + in Spain, and for Legido it is a “landmark with works of all kinds” .- There is still a social ignorance regarding the so-called minorities social, in this case sexual minorities? + Much less than years ago, but it still exists. Young people are becoming more and more aware. It’s not Spain for decades, but we can’t forget the discrimination, school bullying, harassment, teasing or beatings that many children or adults still suffer for being gay or lesbian and, of course, transgender people. where are we going + Lack of education in this regard in schools, for example. However, universities are becoming increasingly interested in these topics.
The current landscape is more diverse and is strengthened by families with trans, gay children … which offer visibility on emotional-sexual diversity.
There are more and more LGTBI associations even in small towns and there are important legal achievements, but many more demands are needed, especially for lesbian women.
— Is female homosexuality less interesting than male homosexuality and therefore its representations in cinema?
+ Yes. The women were continually silent because of the patriarchy. There is machismo even in LGTBI associations, where lesbians have always said that gay business has been more interesting than theirs. “A MIRROR IS NECESSARY TO LOOK.” — Is progress being made? + Things that change, but is the fact that these gay men were educated as heterosexual men, in a world of inequalities between them and women and it shows. There is more ignorance of lesbians, because they have always been more hidden, in real life and in fiction.
They were not harassed like gay men, but not because they were respected, but because, as women, they were ignored and, if they were interested, it was to procreate. However, many ended up in psychiatric centers and other institutions. Society made them invisible and they lived more discreetly, but left them with no references to identify with in cinema; and if it is not talked about, this matter will remain unknown .— Are certain themes avoided in cinema? Cinema is not usually interested in everything it doesn’t sell; at least in advertising. Filming is abundant in American cinema, but same-sex relationships are lacking. It’s a stupidity. As long as social reality is not taken into account and homosexual characters are normally integrated into cinematic discourse, the collective will not have a mirror in which to look, which is very necessary. But are there any movies …? Fortunately, there are more and more commercial movies that talk about lesbianism, but very few compared to those in gay or straight stories. In addition, the lesbian characters integrated in any story are missing as one more. — And on the small screen? Also, although sexual diversity is more common in television series than in movies. In addition, there are lesbian-themed series created for the Internet, with great success, but lesbians are still more hidden than homosexuals .— Any example?
In the programs of the “heart” there is no lack of service homosexuals, the more “pen” the better; reminiscent of the so-called Sissy of early twentieth-century film comedies. It is discriminatory that the pen is related to what is funny or grotesque, because, for example, in the news is not allowed.In serious programs it seems that homosexuals and, of course, lesbians, must remain in the closet. In fact, there are more famous men who publicly acknowledge their homosexuality than women.
“IT’S A QUESTION OF EQUALITY AND EMPATHY.”
-Why do you think this type of rehearsal like yours is necessary? To provide visibility and also diversity. Ignorance creates prejudices and phobias that affect so-called social minorities. Work in this direction is also needed to understand the history of women in general and lesbian women in particular and how they have been or are subjected. To know the film discourse and the ways to say what is forbidden. My intention is to show a truthful and realistic context about lesbianism which, I think, is of great cultural and social importance; and it must be in the common interest because it is everyone’s business, it is a matter of equality and empathy.
— Stereotypes have served to represent the LGTBI population, but at the same time, they are a way to make them pigeons …. Of course. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the example of the “woman in pants” was given, that lesbian who dressed in men’s clothing such as Marlene Dietrich in “Morocco” (1930), and then the viewer recognized in her a woman different from that of the rest. Wearing men’s clothing made them acquire certain rights of men and that’s why they smoked, drank …— As a joke or not, the lesbian character was there … Yes, for the pleasure of many. The most common stereotype remains that of the lesbian “Butch” (blood); It is still common to represent a homosexual female character through the dress code and it will be by wearing a plaid shirt, wide pants, short hair, without makeup … Society is accustomed to the stereotypical image of the lesbian, when there are a thousand ways to be her Like a thousand ways to be heterosexual.
In the last century it was a way to recognize yourself, but now you have to bet on diversity. — In the book you explain the evolution of sapphic discourse on the big screen during the twentieth century in the West; How is it today? + The representation of lesbian movies has changed a lot. There were the “women in trousers” mentioned above to provoke laughter, and later, when lebianism was allowed some visibility, lesbian jailers appeared as in “Caged” (1950); the gloomy ones, like Mrs. Danvers from “Rebecca” (1949); the vampire killers in “Dracula’s Daughter” (1936) … All to remind people that being a lesbian was a bad thing.
“CINEMA GENERATES MODELS”.
But has that evolved? + Yes, in the sixties, lightly dressed lesbians end up satisfying a heterosexual male desire; In the 1980s, independent cinema was responsible for titles with lesbian diversity, and since then, the characters have been incorporated, but very little by little. Even at the end of the last century, female homosexuality was very much disguised in commercial films, as in “Fried Green Tomatoes” (1991); While in the novel the story is lesbian, on the big screen it is hidden as much as possible and there are subtle pressures …
As real life progresses, this is reflected in fiction. Now, this path has already been traveled, but more stories and more lesbian characters are missing. — In his paper he analyzes many commercial films that treat the subject in a hidden way. Clearly, there was a way to defy censorship …
And so much so, you had to be smarter than the censors. The cinematographic codes made possible the story of the forbidden by playing with two-way dialogues, through music, looks, plans, certain settings, light, photography, the stereotypes of the characters …
In the films I analyze, all this is detailed to help the viewer realize. It was supposed to be a well-understood story, but in its proper measure, very subtle, which does not go unnoticed by the LGTBI community .— Cinema is also a powerful weapon that tells you what to think … + And what you have to think. Cinema, as a means of mass, generates fashion. For example, the woolen jacket worn by the protagonist “Rebecca” was a garment worn by peasant women at the time; after the movie it became fashionable and was called “rebeca” after the movie. And so with many movies.
— It also generates lifestyles or behaviors …
Indeed, when they see them reflected, people naturally assume them and even imitate them. If the only image that cinema offers to gay women is that of villains, of criminals … imagine the psychological impact on society and on them. Dictators like Hitler, Franco or Mussolini knew about the importance of cinema as a propaganda weapon and used it. Therefore, it can be very dangerous, but if used properly, it is an excellent tool for education and even awareness. — How would you like the theme of the audiovisual?
Various and plural. Let the day come when the so-called “gay cinema” is not necessary, because the appearance of gay characters in the film is natural and normal. That these are no exception to the film or its peculiarity. For this to happen, LGTBI festivals are still very much needed, such as Working Woman’s Day or Gay Pride.
Finally, what do you expect from the book: a certain effect on the reader?
That the reader understands that what more and more people naturally assume today has not always been so easy. That there was a time, not so long ago, when lesbian women were not allowed to be, either in real life or in fiction. Ask questions about it and learn to respect everyone with the same dignity they deserve. Of course, in addition, they have a great desire for cinema, to know great classics or to understand them now in a way that they may not have known before.