The left wing of US politics is often discussed through European benchmarks. It can appear more centre-right at times. today in Barcelona, Susan Sarandon presents the BCN Film Fest’s honorary award. She will interview attendees during the screening of the film This Monday (Verdi cinemas, 19:30). Thelma and Louise, a 1991 film, has become a defining emblem of a new wave of feminism. Sarandon stands as a prominent figure in Hollywood leftism, recognized for shaping conversations about gender and power in cinema.
Her commentary on contemporary America is forceful. While she supported Barack Obama in the past, she now critiques Joe Biden’s presidency and warns about Donald Trump’s possible resurgence. At a small gathering with media outlets, she remarked that re-election is a real possibility for Trump. She noted that after the Ohio train crash last February, Trump visited the site while Biden did not, a moment she linked to shifting support among the working middle class, which feels increasingly unsettled. She questioned why government spending went toward weapons for the war in Ukraine while healthcare in the United States remained strained .
Her stance is uncompromising yet forward-looking. With titles like The Rocky Horror Show and El Ansia, Sarandon has become an icon for LGBTQ+ communities. She appreciates the idea that songs such as Creature of the Night from The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack symbolize solidarity for gay and trans audiences. Thelma and Louise is viewed as a cultural marker of feminism. The film’s road trip along the highway and through the Grand Canyon is cited as a powerful ideological statement, reflecting careful attention to how stereotypes, violence, and homophobia are depicted on screen. Cinema, she argues, can amplify prevailing prejudices if not handled thoughtfully .
The Beginning of #MeToo
Sarandon speaks to the question of whether Thelma and Louise can be seen as a historically clear catalyst for the #MeToo movement. The film is described as a pioneer in that movement, while she also recalls the experiences of transgender people in places like Texas, noting how these memories have complicated progress. Her stance promotes films that empower women and challenge the shame some groups internalize for expressing their choices and behavior .
In this light, Sarandon is often described as a mother, activist, and actress in that order. Activist precedes actress in her view, and she has repeatedly underscored the importance of family while maintaining her public advocacy. Her daughter Eva is married to a professional football player, a detail she uses to illustrate a point: in the United States, women’s soccer commands larger audiences than men’s soccer, a sign of evolving cultural priorities .
From Billy Wilder to the Wachowskis
Throughout her career, Sarandon has collaborated with renowned directors including Billy Wilder on early appearances such as Primera Plana, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Louis Malle, Paul Mazursky, Georges Miller, the Wachowski siblings, Tim Robbins, Robert Benton, Oliver Stone, Peter Jackson, and Robert Redford. Though she has taken producing roles in certain TV series and films like Feud, where she portrayed Bette Davis, she does not currently seek directing projects. She has explained that directing requires patience and a level of commitment that she prefers to reserve for other priorities, including family responsibilities .
Thelma and Louise remains one of her most iconic works, though it sits alongside Tim Robbins’ The Death Penalty, for which she earned an Oscar nomination in 1996. The film choices she makes are tied to a belief in cinema as a vehicle for messages with social resonance. The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the nun who empathizes with a condemned character in The Death Penalty are cited as examples of how certain roles forge lasting impressions and defend against simplistic stereotypes .
Her filmography also includes Pasión sin Barreras (1990) and the lesser-known 3 Generations (2015), which explore cross-generational relationships and cultural differences. The story of a single mother and her transgender daughter, interpreted through Naomi Watts and Elle Fanning, is highlighted as a landmark for audiences seeking authentic portrayals of gender transition and the challenges faced by those navigating it. Sarandon views such work as essential for clarity and empathy in storytelling .