Anna Kendrick just made an incredible point about that “Last Tango in Paris” rape scene
We can’t stop applauding what Anna Kendrick had to say about Last Tango in Paris and THAT rape scene.
Over the weekend, a newly surfaced video of the director of the classic 1973 film Last Tango in Paris, Bernardo Bertolucci, came to light where the Italian filmmaker revealed that the film’s controversial rape scene involving Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider had been performed without Schneider’s consent.
Speaking in a clip taken from a 2013 interview held at La Cinémathèque Française in Paris, Bertolucci told how he and Brando came up with the idea for Brando’s character to sexually assault Schneider with a stick of butter the morning before shooting. The pair decided to not mention the decision to Schneider.
"I wanted her to react humiliated," Bertolucci said. "I think she hated me and also Marlon because we didn't tell her."
Bertolucci went on to say that he didn’t “regret” how he had behaved towards Schneider because he wanted to capture a real moment on film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=021jNOEVytQ?feature=oembed
Over the weekend, many spoke out about the revelations on social media, including Jessica Chastain and Chris Evans.
To all the people that love this film- you're watching a 19yr old get raped by a 48yr old man. The director planned her attack. I feel sick. https://t.co/qVDom2gYf6
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) December 3, 2016
Wow. I will never look at this film, Bertolucci or Brando the same way again. This is beyond disgusting. I feel rage https://t.co/uvaLogvv7I
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) December 3, 2016
Inexcusable. As a director, I can barely fathom this. As a woman, I am horrified, disgusted and enraged by it. https://t.co/voGRhafy9K
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 4, 2016
However, Anna Kendrick noted that this shock should have come sooner.
Taking to Twitter, the actor stated that she had been telling people for years about what Schneider had been subjected to.
"Ms Schneider stated this several years ago. I used to get eye-rolls when I brought it up to people (aka dudes)," she tweeted in reply to Chris Evans.
Ms Schneider stated this several years ago. I used to get eye-rolls when I brought it up to people (aka dudes).
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) December 3, 2016
Evans then responded, saying:
"had no idea. Woulda felt rage then too. They should be in jail.
had no idea. Woulda felt rage then too. They should be in jail.
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) December 3, 2016
"I don't doubt it," Kendrick responded. "It wasn't treated like a big story then(shocker). Glad at least it will be taken seriously now."
I don't doubt it. It wasn't treated like a big story then(shocker). Glad at least it will be taken seriously now
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) December 3, 2016
Anna Kendrick is referring to an interview that Maria Schneider gave in 2007 with The Daily Mail.
In it, the actor recounted what had occurred while filming Last Tango and went on to say that she felt “a little raped” by both Brando and Bertolucci.
"That scene wasn't in the original script. The truth is it was Marlon who came up with the idea," Schneider said at the time. "They only told me about it before we had to film the scene and I was so angry. I should have called my agent or had my lawyer come to the set because you can't force someone to do something that isn't in the script, but at the time, I did." Continuing, she added: "I felt humiliated and to be honest, I felt a little raped, both by Marlon and by Bertolucci," she said at the time. "After the scene, Marlon didn't console me or apologise. Thankfully, there was just one take."
Sadly, Schneider passed away in 2011 at the age of 58. The actor never filmed another nude movie scene again, and relocated her career to France after filming Last Tango.
While Brando died in 2004, Bernardo Bertolucci is still alive and made a film as recently in 2012.If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call the RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
