Week 46/2026

In the current cultural landscape, which seems to lean increasingly towards conservatism and prudishness, it is easy to forget the radical changes that representations of sexuality on the silver screen have undergone in the past few decades. From the sexual revolution of the sixties to expressions of third-wave feminism in cinema, the portrayal of women’s sexuality onscreen has often sparked debate. The questions remain as relevant as ever: how can we escape the curse of the male gaze? Is it even possible to properly portray women as sexual beings in a mainstream culture that seeks to commodify everything it touches?

In 1968, at the height of the sexual liberation movement, Barbarella was released in theatres. Directed by Roger Vadim (the supposed “inventor” of Brigitte Bardot) and starring Jane Fonda in the titular role, the movie is praised by its cult following for being one of the first science fiction flicks dominated by female characters. The flip side of the coin, however, is the incessant objectification of the heroine, who is catapulted from one hypersexual encounter to another.

Jed Johnson’s Bad (1977) (also known as Andy Warhol’s Bad), screening on Monday at OFFoff, has also been the subject of feminist analyses. Hazel runs a beauty salon from her home, but she also employs several “hitwomen”. She actively avoids hiring male assassins but decides to take a chance on J.T., a young man desperately looking for a job. However, he turns out to be much less ruthless than his female colleagues, which some critics interpret as a reversal of stereotypical gender roles. 

In Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct (1992), the female protagonist is a mysterious novelist under investigation for murder. Detectives try to penetrate the enigmatic and provocative front she puts up, but their efforts remain fruitless. While Verhoeven can be credited for his three-dimensional female characters whose ambiguity and nuance were relatively unusual in mainstream Hollywood, a scandal surrounding the film raises questions about the ethics of its production: the much-talked-about interrogation scene features a glimpse under Sharon Stone’s skirt, which the actress has stated she did not knowingly consent to filming.