“Ageing Out – How much space is there in the cinema for actresses aged 60 plus?”
Image credit: photographed by Fringer Cat for Unsplash
Vinzenz Hediger, a member of the AGE-C team, was interviewed by the prominent news portal Hessenschau in the Hessen region of Germany. The interview covered various facets of cinematic representations of old age and gender.
Summery
Actresses have been expressing concerns for quite some time about the challenges they face as they age, often finding themselves marginalized in the industry. Now, a research initiative led by Goethe University is delving into this phenomenon known as “Ageing out” within the film industry. AGE-C project aims to pioneer a new discipline within film studies dedicated to understanding these dynamics.
Hediger’s hypothesis suggests that the European film industry is responding to the aging audience by creating films centered around the experience of getting older. He points to examples like “Amour” by Michael Haneke and Andreas Dresen’s “Cloud 9,” both of which explore themes of love and sexuality in old age. The project involves collaboration with universities in five European countries, and a team of researchers is being assembled to delve into the portrayal of actresses aged 60 to 80 in film.
The article contrasts this perspective with the “Ageing out” concept often seen in American cinema, where actresses are believed to start facing casting challenges before the age of 35. In European arthouse cinema, Hediger argues that both the audience and actresses have aged together, leading to a different dynamic.
“The older audience wants older actresses”.
Vinzenz Hediger
Actress Anke Sevenich, a notable voice in the discourse, shares her experiences as a 64-year-old actress in Germany. She discusses the phenomenon of “Ageing out,” citing instances where roles for older women are limited to functional roles that support male protagonists. She gives examples such as the older neighbor providing crucial information to the detective. The article mentions a study commissioned by actress Maria Furtwängler that found a decline in the representation of women over 30 in German-speaking cinema.
The article also highlights the changes occurring in the industry, with insights from Frankfurt-based producer and director Julia Peters, who specializes in films made by and featuring women. Peters notes that stories involving women were once undervalued, often reduced to the role of mothers. However, she sees a slow shift in the industry and believes that AGE-C research projekt will provide more conclusive insights in four years.
