“Spanish cinema’s best kept secret is the name of our sexual harassers”. Comedian Julián López touched his finger to the sore spot with this joke at the 2018 Feroz awards gala. A year ago, a report by the ‘New York Times’ revealed the truth. #MeToo battered American cinema. The almighty Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexual assault and rape in 2020. The women she attacked, such as actress Asia Argento, were proud to be “part of the greatest feminist revolution since the conquest of the vote.” The enormous power of #MeToo in Hollywood It has not spread to other countries. Spain didn’t even come close. But so is France. Because? “That’s the question we all ask ourselves in the industry. But stop asking us, talk to them,” replies El Periódico of the Prensa Ibérica group, a production company that prefers to remain anonymous.
Maribel Verdú and Leticia Dolera were the first First-hand social condemnation of abuses. Aitana Sánchez-Gijón said she had to flee the hotel room where a foreign manager had given her an appointment for tests. Carla Hidalgo ran away from a stalker who told her she wouldn’t be able to work if she didn’t sleep with him. The arrest of producer Javier Pérez Santana as an alleged sexual predator in last year’s Feroz and the recent Vermouth case revealed by ‘El País’ days ago show this: sexual harassment and violence are part of the industry Audiovisual in Spanish.
“There are predators in Spanish cinema. Everyone knows this. But a giant Me Too like in the USA is impossible because our industry is too small and will not resist it.”
Well-known producers and directors are politely declining this newspaper’s invitation to talk about Me Too in Spain. Versatile Roberto Enríquez, Bob Pop and the creator of the ‘Maricón Perdido’ series assures that he feels completely free to speak out precisely because he is not exactly involved in the industry. “There are predators and abusers in Spanish cinema. Everybody knows. But a massive #MeToo like the US is impossible because our industry is so small, fragile and endogamous. “I won’t fight it, that would be the end of it,” he emphasizes.
Pay the rent or demand justice
The author looks directly at her male friends. “We are the ones who must take the step. Feminism needs to do its job, but we are the ones with the work ahead of us. “We need to start standing up and making it clear that some attitudes are not normal,” he emphasizes. The first step is to detect abuse (for this, sexual education is needed from childhood), and the second is to tell the public about it.
Insisting that Spanish cinema is an economically unstable industry, Bob Pop admits that “Claiming heroism is a complicated business.” Choose between eating and paying rent or demanding justice We choose the former.” In fact, 77 percent of Spanish performers earn less than 12,000 euros a year, according to the latest report from Aisge, the organization that manages the intellectual property rights of actors, voice actors, dancers and stage directors.
“Our profession needs to take this problem very seriously and take urgent action.”
Montxo Armendáriz, who showed the dark side of sexual abuse in the 2011 movie ‘Don’t Be Afraid’, also dares to speak openly. “I have always expressed my support for all victims of sexual abuse and assault and my admiration for those who have the courage to report this scourge. Our profession needs to take and address this problem very seriously. emergency measures”explains the director.
Silence
Other men choose not to talk. “Maybe if I do this they will jump on my neck,” argues a senior official in the cultural sector. That’s the biggest problem, the #MeToo movement in Spain is not as strong as it is in the United States. “We live in a place deeply conservative societyand one spiral of silence”analyzes Judith Colell, director and president of the Catalan Academy of Cinema. She says the film industry is “an unstable industry where women stand to lose the most.” “This will end the day we won’t be afraid to talk structurally.”
The academy has opened a full anti-abuse department, and its data will be available next July. San Sebastián Festival also started operating anti-bullying protocols and since its last edition, it has launched a 24-hour-a-day telephone service for sexual assault victims. “This wasn’t just phone assistance. We provided psychological or police support. Whatever it takes, but fortunately no calls received“, describe the sources in the competition.
Clauses in contracts
The association of women filmmakers and audiovisual media (CIMA) wanted to go one step further. Technicians are currently working on the creation and incorporation of protocols. Special clauses against sexual harassment in contracts labor. “Sexual harassment is a manifestation of abuse of power. If power is predominantly in the hands of men, this harassment is directed at women. Unfortunately, Spanish cinema and audiovisual cinema are no exception to this reality. It’s time to say enough is enoughIt explains the resources of the association, which also plans to create a ‘practical emergency response guide’ for filmmakers in cases of sexual violence.
We all looked away. This can not be. Let’s talk about this and stop whitewashing.”
There’s still a long way to go, but the industry has taken a giant step forward. In her memoirs, Lola Flores described how, when she had just arrived in Madrid, she sold her “dignity” to an antique dealer for 10,000 duros in cash, with which she kept her parents’ bar afloat and organized a show with Manolo Caracol. Times have changed and more and more women (producers, directors and actresses) have become important and award-winning figures in Spanish cinema. But there is still a lot of dark and harmful male power. “What we need is Male voices saying certain behaviors are not allowed. We all looked away. This can not be. Let’s talk about this and stop whitewashing,” asks producer María Zamora (‘Alcarràs’).
presumption of innocence
In the halls of the last Feroz awards, a saying that would definitely be heard in Gaudí and Goya was heard a lot: “Where is Vermouth’s presumption of innocence?“. Zamora rebels against such comments. “Social notice is very important. In fact, the big changes we experience are happening from the streets and society. Social reporting has nothing to do with the complaint before the judge. “Victims are excellent masters of their speech,” he concludes.
Judge Joaquim Bosch reminded that precisely on social networks, the presumption of innocence is a constitutional right structured within the framework of the criminal process. However, he emphasized: “fundamental right is not legally valid outside this scope”. “It does not cover situations where social accusations are expressed or ethical responsibility is assumed,” he added.