“There is still a long way to go on women’s rights”

Julie Gayet, on the set of France 3 Limousin, presented the film she co-directed “Olympe, une femme dans la Révolution” and in which she plays the eponymous character. The opportunity to talk about the struggles of this little-known personality in French History.

“Olympe, a woman in the Revolution” is the new film co-directed by Julie Gayet with Mathieu Busson. She plays the eponymous character. The film was presented Monday October 7 at the cinema Grand Ecran in downtown Limoges as part of the 9^e cinematographic encounters. Invited on the set of our newspaper Ici 19/20 Limousin, she looks back on elements of the history of this little-known historical character and on the condition of women in the world.

It’s more than current. It was important, for that, to take his portrait. There has never been a film made about her. She is now studying, finally, for the French baccalaureate in first class. But for our generation, it didn’t exist. The first biography of her was published in 1981!

We saw these statues come out during the opening ceremony (of the Olympic Games, editor’s note). These are statues that we do not see in public spaces. It was important to take his portrait.

Olympe now has her bust in the National Assembly facing Jaurès. She was a humanist.

It allows us to address all injustices. Today, we see Afghan women locked in their homes who do not have the right to sing, to speak… We saw Meryl Streep who said that birds and squirrels in parks have more rights than women.

The question of women’s rights – and besides I say it when I go to colleges – March 8 is Women’s Rights Day and not Women’s Day. There is still a long way to go on women’s rights.

I think it will be around March 8th. It was a desire for it to be seen by as many people as possible. I often ask young people: “Do you think that equal pay exists in France? Well no.” Since this is about pensions, women receive 40% less. So, there are things to do.