Kristen Stewart shared her views at the Berlin Film Festival, expressing a desire to move past narratives solely centered on queer and female identities. The acclaimed actress believes that conversations about films portraying marginalized voices should evolve beyond emphasizing only that aspect of their identity.
“We can’t keep doing that thing where we tell everyone how to feel and where we sort of pat each other on the back and receive brownie points for providing space for marginalized voices, and only in the capacity that they are allowed to speak about that alone,” Stewart asserted. “The era of queer films being so pointedly only that is done.”
Stewart returned to Berlin to promote “Love Lies Bleeding,” a gritty crime-romance set in the 1980s Southwestern US The film, directed by Rose Glass, features Stewart as Lou, a gym manager and the daughter of a local crime lord, who develops a romantic connection with Jackie, played by newcomer Katy O’Brian.
During the press conference alongside Glass, Stewart emphasized her interest in highlighting sidelined perspectives without solely focusing on the reasons they have been marginalized. “I’m really kind of into the idea of unearthing sidelined perspectives and not making it all about the reasons that they’re sidelined, but about their actual experience,” said Stewart.
The discussion touched on the challenges of being a woman in the film industry, with Stewart noting that the common conversation about women making films often revolves around empowerment. She highlighted the prescriptive nature of interviews for female artists, emphasizing empowerment to address historical oppression.
Stewart’s perspective aligns with a broader call for more nuanced storytelling that goes beyond identity labels, encouraging a holistic exploration of characters and their experiences. “Love Lies Bleeding” offers a platform for such exploration, challenging conventional narratives and spotlighting perspectives often overlooked in mainstream cinema.