Actress Cate Blanchett (53) understands the criticism of her new film “Tár”. This was expressed by US conductor Marin Alsop (66). Although there is no real role model for the fictional conductor Lydia Tár, who Blanchett embodies in the film, according to her, parallels in the lives of Tár and Alsop were pointed out: Alsop was the first woman to conduct a large US orchestra in 2007, is with a Married woman, supports young female conductors and was promoted by legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). “I feel offended as a woman, as a conductor and as a lesbian,” Alsop then criticized in an interview about the toxic character traits of Blanchett’s film character.
In an interview with “Welt am Sonntag”, the Australian-American artist now reacts to the criticism. “I’ve spoken to conductors like Simone Young and Nathalie Stutzmann, who have an understanding of the, let’s call it, elastic, Tarkovsky-like level of interpretation of our film,” says Blanchett and continues: “‘Tár’ is about power, not about gender issues.”
But Blanchett also shows understanding: “But if, like Marin Alsop, you’ve broken the glass ceiling yourself, if you’ve been put on this pedestal all by yourself for a very long time, if you’ve been an extraordinary leader and a role model for women – then you can I can understand that she has a certain perspective on our film. She is entitled to her opinion. Absolutely.” But the actress also adds: “It just makes me very sad because this view does not capture our film.”
Blanchett has been nominated for her eighth Oscar for her role in Tar, for which she received awards for her roles in the films Aviator (2004) and Blue Jasmine (2013).
All nominated artists will be shown during the worldwide broadcast of the award ceremony, which will take place this year on March 12, 2023 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. In addition, she reveals a little secret in the interview. Because when asked if she’d rehearse the facial expression she’s making on the fade-in, Blanchett laughs and says, “No. The only thing I think about on a night like this is, ‘Please, dear God, don’t trip me up Or fall forward walking the red carpet.’ – Jennifer Lawrence lived through a moment like that for all of us.”
The then 22-year-old Lawrence fell over her evening dress on the stairs on her way to the stage at the 2013 Oscars. “God bless her for that,” says Blanchett.
“Tár” starts in cinemas on March 2nd.
