May el-Toukhy on WWII’s ‘Woman Unknown’ Stories & Venice’s Big Problem!

Director May el-Toukhy speaking about her film 'Woman Unknown' and the Venice Film Festival.
  • May el-Toukhy’s powerful new film
  • Untold WWII stories of ‘horizontal collaborators’
  • Venice Film Festival’s female director snub

You won’t believe what May el-Toukhy just dropped! We’re talking about the brilliant director behind ‘Woman Unknown.’ She’s peeling back layers of World War II history.

Her film takes a super close look at women. Women accused of having relationships with German soldiers. She calls them ‘horizontal collaborators’ and the whole vibe sounds really thought-provoking, diving into the difficult emotional landscape of that time.

It wasn’t just about personal choices, though. May explained how the female body became a huge part of national identity back then. Especially in places like Denmark, where these stories often stayed hidden.

But May didn’t stop at the past. She also called out the present. She’s talking about the Venice Film Festival. Specifically, the lack of female directors showcased there.

It’s not just an accident, she says. It’s a ‘structural problem.’ Something much bigger than just one festival.

Our Take

We totally get what May is saying. It’s wild how history can put so much weight on individuals, especially women during such a difficult period. And the Venice snub? That’s a real head-scratcher.

It’s time for more diverse voices to shine. We need to see powerful stories like ‘Woman Unknown’ get the spotlight they deserve. Change needs to happen, like, yesterday!

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