“Blade Runner 2049” was not the box office hit that its studio had hoped for, while critics were less than kind in criticizing the sci-fi sequel’s objectification and sexualization of women.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the film’s director responds to that criticism, insisting that his film is simply mirroring the real world, which “is not kind on women.”
“I am very sensitive to how I portray women in movies,” Villeneuve tells VF. “This is my ninth feature film and six of them have women in the lead role. The first ‘Blade Runner’ was quite rough on the women; something about the film noir aesthetic. But I tried to bring depth to all the characters. For Joi, the holographic character, you see how she evolves. It’s interesting, I think.”
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Adds the Montreal-born director: “What is cinema? Cinema is a mirror on society. ‘Blade Runner’ is not about tomorrow; it’s about today. And I’m sorry, but the world is not kind on women.”
During the interview, Villeneuve also addresses the film’s disastrous box office, which was far below industry predictions for what was viewed as a highly anticipated sequel to a cult classic.
“It’s a mystery. All the marketing tools were predicting good box office. The tracking, they call it — it was very strong. They had all the champagne in the fridge. It was cold, it was ready to drink! And then, no,” says Villeneuve.
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“The people who saw it, loved it,” he adds. “Why? From what they figured out, the landscape, educated people — people from big cities, New York, L.A., Chicago, Boston, Toronto — they went to see the movie. The centre of America, no.”
