OK, so: Sofia Coppola is currently being congratulated in film circles for her reworking of 1971’s Clint Eastwood vehicle “The Beguiled,” told from a female-centric point of view at a moment in moviemaking history when female-centric points of view, although still few and far between, are being championed for the cause of gender equality in male-dominated Hollywood.
So when a reporter for GQ asked the director about the Bechdel test, the feminist litmus test for film, her response was, in a word, confusing.
“The what test?” Coppola said. The reporter repeated the name.
“I’ve never heard of that. What’s that?”
Because gender equality can be tough to conclusively measure, one of the ways critics have done so is through the Bechdel test, which asks two simple questions: Do two women characters have names? And do they speak to each other about something other than a man? The idea represents some of the work that won creator Alison Bechdel, an American cartoonist, the MacArthur “genius” grant in 2014. If you’ve paid attention to entertainment journalism in the past five years, you’ve probably run across the term more than once.
And if you, like Sofia Coppola, have made several films starring women and telling women’s stories, one would think you’d have used it yourself.
“Oh, I guess I’ve never studied film,” Coppola replied. “That’s so funny, but there are a lot of women talking about a man in this.” (There are, indeed, lots of women talking about a man ― a wounded Union soldier played by Colin Farrell ― but according to Vulture, it does pass.)
Although the film has been hailed for a progressive cause, Coppola has also been the target of criticism over her subjects: women, yes, but only extremely pale types. Her response to a BuzzFeed question about why she didn’t include a black woman character present in both the source material and the 1971 version of “The Beguiled” also drew some criticism over erasure.
While the director may be currently enjoying broader acclaim for her most recent cinematic contribution to feminism, we hope she knows it’s never too late to learn a few things.
“The Beguiled” hits theaters Friday.
Clarification: Language has been amended to reflect that Bechdel’s idea for the test was not the sole reason for her 2014 MacArthur grant.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.