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Remember when we all completed the prequel trilogy and then thought to ourselves that maybe it was time for Lucas to let go of Star Wars and move on? Well, we all saw how that turned out.
No matter what happens, Lucas will always be indelibly linked with the movie trilogy he masterminded that changed filmmaking forever.
Lucas has recently been in Cannes to receive an honorary Palme d’Or, which was presented on Saturday night at the closing ceremony. This is in recognition of his contributions to cinema, through his many innovations including THX and Industrial Light and Magic.
He gave an interview to Variety ahead of the ceremony, and of course he talked Star Wars. In particular, he talked about criticism received for Star Wars around women and ethnicity, or lack of it:
“They would say, ‘It’s all white men’. Most of the people are aliens! The idea is you’re supposed to accept people for what they are… the idea is all people are equal.”
Regarding female characters, he also said many criticized his depiction of women, responding:
“Who do you think the heroes are in these stories? What do you think Princess Leia was? She’s the head of the rebellion. She’s the one that’s taking this young kid who doesn’t know anything and this boisterous, I-know-everything guy who can’t do anything and trying to save the rebellion with these clowns …
And it’s the same thing with Queen Amidala. You can’t just put a woman in pants and expect her to be a hero. They can wear dresses, they can wear whatever they want. It’s their brains and their ability to think and plan and be logistical. That’s what the hero is.”
He’s got a point. Princess Leia was a strong female character in the mold of Diana Christensen (Network), Constance Miller (McCabe & Mrs. Miller), or Jacy Farrow (The Last Picture Show) and established a female role model other than their own mothers in the mind of an entire generation of young boys.
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