Los Angeles, Jun 16: “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins revealed to The Frame her true feelings on the controversial women-only screenings for the Warner Bros/DC Comics venture. The film popped up in select cities nationwide last week. Surprisingly, when it comes to her opinion on the matter, it’s a bit complicated since Jenkins claims to have “mixed feelings.”
“I could switch to either side of the argument, but I certainly think it’s wonderful,” Jenkins said in an interview with The Frame when the movie debuted.
During the interview, Jenkins shared that she can see both sides of the spectrum. She understands the intentions of the women-only screenings, but she also can see the problem with excluding men in this scenario.
“I do believe in not excluding anyone from anything. And so, on the one hand, I’m so delighted by those screenings and want people to be able to have those screenings,” she said. “On the other hand, I can imagine being offended if I’m excluded from those screenings, particularly because Wonder Woman herself has a very, very passionate fan base, many of whom are men.”
While nice in theory, the women-only screenings that debuted throughout the U.S. proved to be very problematic.
The Alamo Drafthouse theater in Austin, Texas, had declared that they will host a women-only screening for anyone who identified as female. Naturally, men local to the area were offended by the so-called discriminatory act and have unsurprisingly spoken out against this.
“Apologies, gentlemen, but we’re embracing our girl power and saying ‘No Guys Allowed’ for one special night at the Alamo Ritz,” the Austin-based theater shared on their website, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “And when we say ‘People Who Identify As Women Only,’ we mean it. Everyone working at this screening — venue staff, projectionist, and culinary team — will be female.”
The Austin theater had to deal with the unfortunate task of responding to men on their Facebook page about the non-inclusive affair.
“Great, let us know when you have guys-only screenings of Thor, Spider-Man, Star Wars, etc,” one commenter wrote. “Let’s see you walk the walk now that you set this precedence.”
Alamo Drafthouse responded to the user, saying: “Very sorry if you feel excluded. We thought it might be kinda fun— for one screening — to celebrate a character who’s meant a great deal to women for close to eight decades. Again, truly, truly, truly, truly sorry that we’ve offended you.”
However, the criticism didn’t stop there as many individuals expressed their disgust and confusion over for the “sexist” screenings on Twitter. Likewise, others shared their thoughts on how ridiculous some men were acting over the women-only events.
To participate in the criticism behind the women-only screenings, a man — Richard Ameduri — wrote a letter to the Austin’s mayor to express his concern over the “sexism” Alamo Drafthouse displayed.
“I hope every man will boycott Austin and do what he can to diminish Austin and to cause damage to the city’s image,” Ameduri wrote in his letter to Mayor Steve Adler. “The theater that pandered to the sexism typical of women will, I hope, regret it’s decision. The notion of a woman hero is a fine example of women’s eagerness to accept the appearance of achievement without actual achievement.”
While Ameduri assumed his letter would be ignored due to the mayor’s “cowardice,” the mayor emailed a response, saying: “You and I are serious men of substance with little time for the delicate sensitivities displayed by the pitiful creature who maligned your good name and sterling character by writing that abysmal email.”
Actor Don Cheadle, who has a role as a superhero in the competing Marvel universe, took to Twitter to share his support for the women-only screenings in a series of tweets to those that criticized it. The “Avengers” star did not understand the backlash from male moviegoers.
“An all women screening of Wonder Woman pits men against women? How?” he wrote in response to another user.
He later responded to another user, saying: “Stupidly. There’s no point to men making a point about celebrating themselves. That’s called “the planet.’”
Fortunately, these women-only events didn’t prevent the film’s overall box office success alongside its impact on fans and critics alike. PTI